Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Beach Living


A few weeks ago after school we went to the beach and walked the pier. It's always a good time watching the fisherman and seeing the sea life from above the water. It's a little unnerving too thinking some of these fishermen catch sharks!!  But it is so pretty and we really love living here. 


These pictures crack me up...downfall of being a little brother! 





One fisherman let the kids touch a fish he had just caught and you would've thought that my kids had won the lottery. They LOVED the fish and smelled wonderful when we left! :) 


We also headed to Crabs one day just the three of us...it was sweet time with my kiddos and we all love being there. For me its relaxing because the kids can play while we wait for food and its pretty obvious why they love it! 




Sunday, May 21, 2017

The One and Only Boy

Terry and I had been married about 3 months when we got into a heated argument...no idea now what it was about but he got in his truck and left. Terry has ALWAYS been the one to settle things before we go to sleep or really move on at all so I thought it was weird but figured we could both use the time to cool off. He came home with a 3lb shih tzu-pug mix puppy in the tiniest sweater and I thought  I might die from the cuteness. I had been begging for a puppy because I was so lonely in Maryland and he kept telling me no...so, that's how we got Gizmo...October 8th 2003. He stole my heart from the moment I saw him... 

He became my baby...he went everywhere with me. I dressed him in clothes, bought him Halloween costumes, Christmas presents, and when we traveled, Gizmo came too. We got Polly about a year later because Gizmo had the worst separation anxiety and was always destroying something. He was so sweet though, strong as an ox, and never met a stranger. He loved anyone and everyone and he barked at every little noise. He had to sleep on a pillow and the first night we had him, I woke up to Gizmo on the pillow next to me and Terry on the floor. :) It was kind of the way the next almost 14 years would be...Gizmo was our "boy" and we lovingly referred to him as "that boy". He was THE funniest dog...

Terry made a movie of Gizmo talking to me...hahaha

He always had to know what you were doing...he was very nosey. 


He loved the snow almost as much as he loved peeing on things. 


Polly has always hated having her picture taken...


Here they are in our kitchen in Maryland...those years were so hard in some ways, but we made the sweetest memories early on in our marriage. 


My Christmas boy 


Dress up time 



More snow time 


I love this picture for so many reasons...Gizmo would freak out when Terry would make this noise and he would kiss him until he stopped. 





He had the best bangs and best smile. :) 


Every Christmas we got them something. Admittedly, the presents got fewer and farther between when we had kids but we still tried to get them something. 


My favorite picture of my boy 


He always had lots of clothes...this one said Local Celebrity in rhinestones. 







Sporting his "I love my mom" shirt...that was my favorite shirt 




When we moved on base, we started having them sleep in the laundry room and Terry built them a bed, painted it, and decorated with stickers and a poster...we were definitely those dog people. :) 


Me and my boy the night before Terry deployed. 



More Halloween :) 


My mom got them formal wear one year for Christmas hahaha


Sleepy man 


Gizmo got in trouble a lot and when he did he would go jump in the bathtub in timeout until we told him he could come out. 


There's no doubt he hated me at times :) 


My young boy 


His eyes started having trouble not long after we moved to Texas, and he couldn't see much by the time we moved to Florida. His hearing started going out too and probably for about a year now, he was not able to see or hear. 



He began to sleep a lot...pretty much all day every day. 


About 6 months ago, I took him to the vet because he had started having some accidents in the house. His lab work turned out fine, but she diagnosed him with canine cognitive disorder which is basically doggy alzheimer's disease. He stayed confused and he cried a lot at night. It took months to come to the decision to put him to sleep, but we knew we had to. He was suffering and it was time to let him go. 


He was a part of some of the sweetest years and definitely the hardest. He never left my side each time I miscarried. He was there when we lost grandparents and when Terry's parents died. It feels like a chapter of our lives closed when Gizmo died. He held such a huge place in our lives and hearts, and so many memories of him are intertwined with memories of loved ones we've lost. He was definitely one of a kind, and we will miss him. 

You were the best boy...I will love you always. 


Thursday, January 26, 2017

6


We had Madeline's party a few weeks early this year since her birthday falls so close to Christmas. She wanted a candy land birthday so I did my best to make it happen! The problem is you can go absolutely nuts with that theme, but I promised Terry we'd keep it low key. We invited her class because she wanted a couple of her friends from school to come, and so many of them showed up! hah Hence the lack of pictures until the party was almost over! 


I made these for the tables outside. I found a place that rented us a bounce house and two tables with chairs for a very reasonable cost. I will do that again and again - SO worth it! 

We had pizza - I had her party at 11 on a Saturday because we had FOUR Christmas parties that weekend too so I kept the food super simple. 


The backdoor - I got this thing on amazon and Madeline loved it even though its a little cheesy. 


Her cake was my favorite...my friend from work makes the cutest best tasting cakes ever!!! This was hands down my favorite cake yet! 


We gave out gumball machines and lollipops as party favors. And now all the moms hate me! :) 


Madeline with Brodie and Evie...basically family 


Some sweet sassy girls! 


After everyone left, Madeline and I went and jumped in the bounce house until they came and got it. Y'all that is a workout but it was such sweet time with my big girl! 


So far I love six. Madeline is becoming a little lady and she has the biggest heart. She is so funny, conscientious, and I have loved watching her develop into a little girl. She loves animals, Pokemon, reading, and all things outside. She is a Daddy's girl these days, but every now and then she just wants Mom...those are my favorite days! :) She adores Ethan, and I just couldn't be prouder of the big sister she is to him. 

Happy Birthday, sweet girl. My prayer for you is that you'll follow the Lord all the days of your life, and that one day you will get to experience the sheer joy of motherhood. I love you with my whole heart. 
Mommy