Since we last spoke…

Since we last spoke…a little and a lot has happened.  We celebrated birthdays.

Beaut.one ushered in a new year in a winter wonderland.  Our family birthday motto: if you are born in the dead of winter…embrace it!  It was fun and lovely and unexpected and surprisingly snuggly.  And in case you’re wondering, those snowflakes hung out in our living room for a majority of the winter.  When you make more than 50 paper snowflakes by hand they are going to stick around for awhile.  They just are.  At least until your carpal tunnel subsides.

We celebrated another special birthday.  And this one had a seven in it too!  Semi important detail for the mathematicians in the group: it included more than a decade or two in addition to the 7.  As my kids would say with really big eyes, “37!  Wow Dad.  That’s a lot of fingers.  And candles.  And fire.”

Since we last spoke…we decided to rearrange our main living space by moving our dining room table into our living room.  It was so fun to eat and entertain with the fireplace and the Christmas tree in our midst.  We also got to enjoy the beautiful view out the large windows that are normally partially blocked by our sofa.  Change is good.  Unless it involves your metabolism slowing down as you age.  Then change is NO good.

And with our dining room table off and away exploring greener pastures, our dining room transformed into a cozy TV space.  We spent many a night curled up in here watching movies, reality TV and Downton Abbey.  DA come back to me!  I miss my British period drama friends.

And then we decided to switch it all back.  And by we…I mean me.

Since we last spoke…we also decided to list our home for sale.  And then we decided not to move quite yet and took the house back off the market.  And by we…I mean we.  This last one was a group decision and we are so happy to stay put for a bit longer.

Since we last spoke we’ve had some serious career changes around here.  Beaut.two received a police officer outfit for Christmas and the next thing we know he is spending all his free time practicing amateur law enforcement.  He is serious about the law and justice and handcuffing his momma to immovable objects and then running off to play.

Beau not only found a new job…he found a new career in a new industry.  Can you believe whom people will hire these days?  Seriously though, I am so proud of him and his new endeavor.  And thankfully…it has nothing to do with selling, making or modeling knit hats and gloves.

Since we last spoke…we spent some time exploring the great outdoors.  We did some serious sledding.  And you know it has to be serious when a member of your family literally comes out of their boot while careening down a hill.

We celebrated Easter,

the 4th of July,

and this pretty lady’s 102nd birthday.  Yes, you read that right.  102 years!  Whenever I think about my sweet Grandma three things race through my mind:

1. Grandmas are fun and sweet and generous.

2. Beau is never going to be rid of me.  I have some serious longevity genes coursing through my body.

3. Am I saving enough for retirement?  Seriously…how long am I going to keep kickin’?  And how much is cable going to cost in 2058?

Beaut.two is none-too-thrilled in this shot.  He had just been informed seconds before that the cupcakes we were celebrating with contain soy and he can’t eat them.  (Food allergies are zero fun.)  And he just couldn’t get past it.  He just couldn’t.

Since we last spoke…we saw dinosaurs.

Is anyone else a smidge relieved that dinosaurs are extinct when you realize how large and fast and hungry these magnificent creatures once were?

Since we last spoke…we cheered our way through Beaut.one’s inaugural softball season,

Beaut.two’s blast of a baseball season,

a fun and red-faced basketball season,

and another dance recital.  She doesn’t look a stitch nervous does she?

Since we last spoke…we encountered our very first pantrum.  Pantrum?  Never heard of it?  We hadn’t either.  But it is indeed very real.  And it apparently occurs when a young man is not at all appreciative of the fashion statement his amazingly cool orange pants will make on Easter Sunday.

And even though we experienced some fashion-related tears…since we last spoke…we also have laughed a whole bunch!  We don’t take ourselves any too seriously around here.

Since we last spoke…we have enjoyed nature’s beauty in our midst.  This indigo bunting was taking a rest in our lilac bush.  Isn’t it magnificent?

And while on vacation I paddled right up next to this lily pad flower.  And nearly capsized the paddle boat Beau and I were on when I decided to stand in order to catch the perfect shot.  That brush with death getting really wet was worth it, don’t you think?

Since we last spoke…we flew kites on the last day of school and…

…caught Tag red-handed trying to eat a banana.  See Exhibit A: Chiquita sticker stuck to defendant’s nose.  So busted!

Since we last spoke…we have gained an appreciation for 3-D film making but we have lost a considerable number of teeth.

Since we last spoke…our knight in shining armor has saved us from all sorts of dangerous enemies…

…and made us a serious hit at the Mall of America.  It was all his idea to sport the Teenage Mutant Turtle costume and rock it he did.  It was awesome-sauce.

Since we last spoke…we have enjoyed much deliciousness from our backyard garden.  These rainbow carrots are really sweet and really purple.  We have also been eating fresh strawberries by the handful.

While we are on the subject of deliciousness, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you how I have fielded phone call after phone call from a dear friend of mine since we last spoke.  He just talks and talks.  And I just listen and listen.  Our relationship is really quite time consuming.  But a girl has got to do what a girl has got to do.

Since we last spoke…Beaut.two has mastered riding a bike without training wheels.  “I’m doing it! I’m doing it!” could be heard from near and far.

And we spent a week in the north woods of Wisconsin vacationing with these crazy and lovely people.

Since we last spoke…we have spent a lot of time enjoying all the simple things summer can bring…

…and a lot of just hanging around…enjoying one another.

What have you been up to since we last spoke?

Stacey

P.S. All photos were taken by me…except the Ryan Gosling one.  That little piece of photographic artistry was sent to me by a friend.  I can take no credit at all.  But who can take credit really?  God can…that’s who…for creating Mr. Gosling in the first place.  Thank you and good-bye.