random act of kindness

Randy and Annie surprised me with a skinny vanilla latte today at work.

I needed that. I am struggling to keep my chin up.

Sometimes it is the little unexpected things that make the biggest difference.

Annie

She is beautiful. Inside and out.

The minute I laid eyes on her I fell head over heals in love with her dimples. All of the them.

She is an old soul. She is wise beyond her years.

She loves with all of her heart. She does not judge.

She is an amazing artist. Her masterpieces fill our home.

She is our little sister. She is best friends with Abby.

She is our big sister. Abe thinks she hung the moon.

She is an Auntie. She loves Stella and Lucy with all her heart.

She has an opinion. She is not afraid to speak her mind.

She has the prettiest eyes. She can see God's creation everywhere she looks.

She is extremely feisty. We always know when she is around.

She is a helper. If I want the job done right - I ask her.

She is daddys girl. He would travel to the ends of the earth for her.

She is a perfectionist. She is too hard on herself.

She is not afraid to say no. She is not afraid to say yes.

Today our baby girl is 21. It's a big day.

We love her just the way she is. Our family would not be "us" without "her".

Happy Birthday, Annie!!

P.S. I never in a million years imagined not spending birthdays with my daughters. I hate it and I will never get used to it. Never ever ever. I want to tell them every detail about the day they were born (even though they have both heard it over twenty times). Someday soon I hope we can have big family parties with birthday dinners and lottsa cake. That is my dream...

I am so pathetic

My weekend plans are as follows:

Today - Rasberry White Chocolate Mocha

Tomorrow- Milky Way from Radina's

Saturday - Coffee w/cream "to go" while on a day long scavenger hunt

The company I will be keeping will be even better than the coffee!

I'm already lovin' my weekend!!

Happy Heart Day!!

I think Valentine's is way more fun as a child. Party at school. Usually very pretty decorated cupcakes. Lots of  PINK and red napkins and plates. Fun decorated valentines boxes for all the candy and cards. I remember how much I LOVED coming home from school and going through my candy and cards. Love LOved LOVED it!!

Since becoming a parent (forever ago) I have always loved celebrating valentines as a family. Not to say we haven't gone out as adults only on February 14 but I prefer to celebrate with my kids and their dad.

The tradition started years ago when a take and bake pizza place had very cheap heart shaped pizzas on valentines day. If you know me - you know I am a traditionalist. So heart shaped pizza and candlelight became our family valentine's dinner.

I've been gluten free three (CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?) years and these days Randy makes our homemade heart shaped pizza. It's even better than those pre-made pizzas from years ago.

Tonight, somewhere between taekwando, play practice and baseball practice, we will have a pizza dinner by candlelight. And a homemade chocolate cake (my treat to them)

Me and my boys.

That makes my heart very happy.