My 365 Day Project

My Awesome Sister in Law Shannon is doing a 365 day project this year, she is taking a picture a day and posting them on her blog. What a fun and cute idea. Some day they will be able to look back at it and they will have fun random memories. I am not a photographer like her and wouldn't even try to take a picture a day because I am horrible at remembering to put the camera in the purse or have it at every moment, also my life really isn't as exciting as hers. So My Project began on Frank's Birthday. It didn't start as a 365 day project, originally it was going to be a fun Valentines decoration, But I thought about it more and it turned into something I wanted to do each day to tell my husband how much I love and adore him. So Everyday this year I am cutting out a paper heart and writing something new each day about why I love him. I am putting them to the back of our front door and when that is full we will move on to the walls or wherever. Next year I will put them in a journal or some kind of book so that we will have those moments to share.

I am not the best at cutting on the lines

Our door so far

I think it is important to let the one you know why everyday and what a better way to do it than writing it down so that we can share those memories.

The Dollar Store Birthday & why it was the best one yet.

The 18th was Franks 40th Birthday! He didn't want a big fuss made about his age and I could care less his age, because I love him for who he is and how he makes me feel. With his Birthday being so close to Christmas its always tight money wise.  I wanted to do whatever I could to make it special for our little family. He worked on the 17th and so I had some time to go out and get a few items to decorate and to put in his goodie bag. I headed to the Dollar Store looking for a really big card, I walked to where the cards were only to find they had remodeled the store. So I was standing in the toy section. I saw a Paddle Board with a Ball attached. We had just talked about them after seeing them on a show the other day. Had to get it! then I saw a Connect Four travel game that I knew he would love.

We have talked about this game many times and haven't picked up the normal version. I then found the Birthday Card and Party Supply section. I had no luck finding the BIG card I was looking for, so I would have to be happy with a normal size card, one from me and one from our boys. I found a happy birthday banner, a gift bag and some balloons then I found another childhood present that we could have fun with! Punch Balls! Who didn't love those? I was proud of myself for getting out of there having only spent 12 dollars! He asked for a video game, so I went to the store to pick it up, I had put it on hold earlier in the day. Drove to the store to pick it up and was told "Mam this isn't our location, you reserved it in the Seminole location and we don't have it in stock here" Great! I had to drive back to where I came from. I picked up the game and they had two on hold, "No I will just take one thanks" "By the way Mam, (When did I become a mam?) this game is Online Only and you will have to pay $15 a month to play it" Frank hadn't mention this to me, but I figured he had looked at it and knew what he wanted. So off I went to pick up some Soda and Eggs and some 49 cent candy at Wal-greens (I love when they have good stuff on sale! Eggs for 99 cents a dozen!)  My phone rang and it was the Birthday Boy himself, I told him I got the game and gave him the details about the online only stuff and he said "No I had no idea, take it back" You have got to be kidding, after all the running around to get the game I now have to take it back? "When I pick you up from work we can go together and look for a new game" I suggested, We agreed and home I went to put the eggs in the fridge and get his present together. Didn't get time for that it was time to pick him up. we got him a game and went home to eat. At 11.30 he had to run up to his job to drop something off and was given a free birthday snacks for us. While he was gone I did this

Attached Balloons to the Ceiling Fan

Put up the Sign that didn't want to stick to the wall

The end result

He came home and Loved it, I had turned off all the light except the white fairy lights in our tree. He waited until after midnight to open his presents he laughed at his Dollar Store Items and loved it all.  When we woke up in the morning he played his game and we spent time laughing and just being together. I had signed us both up for all kinds of birthday promotions throughout the year, so coupons were coming in weeks before, Free Drink here and Buy one get one free there, so we picked an Italian Restaurant, CD Roma's, that we liked. We picked our drinks and ordered some Alfredo Sauce with there YUMMY bread sticks, ordered our meal which came with a side salad. We ate the bread sticks and talked and laughed as we always do. The Salads came and we both looked at each other and asked "are you full too?" Then they brought out the main dishes, we laughed and said "Can we get boxes and an extra side of bread?" The waitress was so confused she got the owner. "Is there a problem?" "Not at all Sir its just that we filled up on bread sticks and we are now too full to eat" I said laughing. He smiled and said no problem, he even sent out more spicy alfredo for franks dinner. With the weight we are both loosing we don't eat much anymore, we just didn't realize how little it took to get us full. We stopped by Aunt Dot's house for an hour to chat and catch up. Then we went to pick up the Pineapple upside down cake his mother had made for him. Talked to them for a little while and headed home. We had a coupon for a Free Drink at Dunkin' Donuts for his Present by mail. I then remembered that I had a coupon from the newspaper for a free drink also. Super Sweet! We both got a Coolada, kind of like a Slurpee but more fruity and topped with whipped cream, and home we went. It was a great day and in all we had spent less than I had planned and still had a great day! I am so in Love with my husband, he has his faults, but so do I. We understand each other and work to overcome the issues and have grown so much in our two years together. I can't wait to make more memories and spent many more birthdays together........

"Your the Voice"

Tonight I rediscovered my Love of Music, I found some of the songs I listened to growing up as a child in Australia, very much Influenced by my older sister Donna, I was always with her and was called little Donna for most of my Life. We would listen to John Farnham over and over! I can remember listening to his music in the "girls" bedroom in Alwyn Court House, with those pink walls and her bed next to the window and mine against the kitchen wall. How on earth did we all fit in that small house? Anyway I found some songs that I haven't heard since I was 11 years old and I still knew the words. Made me think of many old memories which is always fun. Donna and Ngaire took me to my first concert, Debbie Gibson! Floor seats, got a special outfit for it and everything, Black and White shirt, Black pants, Black & White Polka Dot Socks! We stopped at KFC to eat and wouldn't you know it, I spilled my Orange Juice all over myself. Donna and I started a tradition in Utah, we went to every Tim McGraw Concert and Kenny Chesney Concert. Good Times, I miss going to them with her. We would sing and dance along and buy shirts and key chains, when I think how much I have spent on the concerts its kinda crazy, but I wouldn't give up those memories for anything. No matter where we sat we always had fun, even trying to get out of the stupid amphitheater in West Valley was an adventure. Hopefully soon we can start going again. I remember when I flew back to Australia the first time with Mum and Dad in 1999, Tim had just released the song "Please Remember Me" I loved it, I heard it on the plane ride and cried my eyes out. Donna was kind enough to send me the Album "A Place in the Sun" while I was still in Australia. I couldn't wait till I got back to the States, lol. I got my first Tim Album "Everywhere" the day I got into my first car accident in the way home from my job at BYU, the sun was in my eyes and I hit a car, but there was no damage but I was really upset. Mum took me to Wal-mart in American Fork and let me pick one out to cheer me up, little did she know that this was the start of a Love Affair! One of the Many Concerts we went too was at the Delta Center and Tim had Kenny Chesney as his opening act. We were in the first row right off the right side of the stage, right where Kenny entered the stage, I was in the seat closest to where everyone came out. That begun the Kenny Love Affair! I have a picture of him walking off stage,  I called his name and he turned and waved, ahhh Kenny! As I write this I am listening to some Tim on YouTube, So cool. Its funny how just hearing a line in a song can stir up so many emotions and take you back too so many places, to a small house filled with 8 kids, two parents, a dog and three cats, birds and fish and sometimes a Foster Kid or a Boarder or the Elders and Lots of Love, to a crowded arena looking at Tim McGraw singing your favorite song and you feeling like there is no one else in the place, to a crowded amphitheater talking to the strangers next to you and getting their friends front row ticket and sneaking down there to listen and stare and get as close as ever to Tim before getting caught by security and having to go back to your seat! To taking your niece and nephew to their first Kenny Chesney Concert and Singing with them and seeing the Happiness on their faces when they first saw him on that stage. I love music and the memories that come back with every song.......

Merry Christmas Eve!

Just wanted to say that its christmas eve and I am headed to bed so that Santa can come visit us and Leave us some goodies! Love to everyone and I hope you all are safe and loved at this time.

I miss you.....

I just wanted to let you know that I miss you. I miss your smile. I miss your laugh. I miss your eyes. I miss your hands. I miss your arms. I miss your voice. I miss your smell. I miss everything about you. I just wanted you to know.....

Lunar Eclipse

Those of you who follow my Facebook page have seen these but I can't stop looking at them and looking up video of the beautiful site I got to be a witness of this morning, It was a beautiful clear night in Florida, freezing cold, but perfect. We took the dogs down with us to view the Eclipse but they of course barked and fussed and ran around, but still it was good for them to be out of the apartment. We stayed out for about an hour and a half, Frank and the neighbor took the dogs back up right before I took the last picture. When it was totally covered we went back upstairs to defrost. I went back down about 10 mins later. I took my camera but forgot to put in the memory card, I took a few pictures that are on the camera, but you really can't see anything, the Moon was red and just amazing.  The sky was breath taking, Stars shinning down. It made me cry. Everything makes me cry right now. I remembered as a child at Vermont Primary School, there being a Solar Eclipse, We weren't allowed outside at lunch. I came up after looking the 2nd time and told Frank about the Solar Eclipse he looked at me like I was crazy, so I had to prove him wrong, lol we are very competitive. So I looked it up to prove to him that indeed there was one during my Primary school days. April 24th 1986, I was 7. So Ha Ha I was right! I may not remember where I left my keys or what I did 10 mins ago, but somethings stick with you. So now in my lifetime I have been around for a Solar Eclipse and a Lunar Eclipse and I have been lucky enough to watch two Shuttle Launches, which I have always wanted to see in person, One at night and One During the Day. Space is pretty Awesome, wish I had paid more attention in Science Class. It really is Awesome. Here is a link to a video of the Lunar Eclipse, The music is creepy but the video is awesome! http://vimeo.com/18046748. The Next one won't be seen until 2485, I know I won't be around for that one.

Lazy Bum Kinda Day...

To Quote My Big Brother Guy, today I was a lazy bum, I slept till 11am, of course falling asleep at 3.30am it doesn't sound that late now. Anyway I was so lazy that I can't remember what I did. I know I have been reading a Blog and looking at photos of a trip that I wasn't on, with people I have never met, but you know what, I felt like I was there, like I know them. I share in his pain and in his joy. I look at Maddy and I smile and then I cry, and then I smile again. She is a Beautiful Little 2 year old, who will turn 3 in March. The 24th of march. One Day after my Birthday. That Makes me smile. Then I think of the Day after her birthday and that makes me cry. I honestly don't know how he does it. How will she deal with it when she gets older? I read how he does it and I think I could never do it. I think I would give up, turn resentful and bitter. But then I think, I wouldn't give up, in fact I look back and I haven't given up. I haven't dealt with the same things he has, but I have dealt with my own trials that to me seemed huge at the time, but now they were stepping stones to who I have become. I may never meet Matt and Maddy but they have become a huge part of my life and have given me smiles and laughs that have helped me through this down time and I hope they know that there is someone out there who is going to remember their Angel Liz every 25th too. And that Like Me, there are people pulling for them too......