Getting Ready

We're cleaning and finishing stuff up and getting packed up to go home tomorrow!!!  Audrey's birthday is Monday (how did my little bitty baby get to be 9 years old, that is half way to being responsible for herself ya'll!).  Her birthday party plans?  She just wants her family and her best friends to celebrate with her, she's so adorable!  That girl, she is amazing, I will devote a post to her in a few days, but just let me say again, that girl is amazing!  We're going to weenie roast, make smores, and just hang out, I CANNOT wait!  Miss you all.....

Today is Thursday, so its Embrace the Camera day again, so here we go...

Hunter is packing this morning with head gear on, whatta weirdo :-)

PS I wsh you could all hear Audrey singing to herself right now, it is precious!

First off, I know I am weird and crazy!  Little known fact about me, I am a little OCD, but most of time I keep it under control.  That monster has reared its ugly head again!  I get sucked into some really lame tv shows, some I am ashamed to even admit.  Extreme Couponing on TLC is the newest one of those.  I am just so fascinated by the amount of free stuff these people have gotten!  Honestly, I think they are taking it too far, I mean who needs 3000 tubes of toothpaste or 100 bottles of hot sauce?  However, I just can't resist getting my piece of the good deals to be had, so now I am obcessing over it!  Last week a trip to Albertson's gave me $110 worth of groceries for $65 (40% savings) not bad right?  Today I hit up Target, this is what I got...

That would be 3 John Frieda hair care products worth $28.37.  I used 4 coupons (I never knew you could "stack" coupons, see I am even getting the lingo down, a little scary I know!)....(2) $5 off, (1) $2 off and (1) $3 of 2.  Total out of pocket for these is $10.02 (after tax) and I received a $5 Target gift card for buying 3 John Frieda products, so the final cost is $5.02 for 3!  Crazy huh?  That is a savings of 83%!  Don't expect me to fill my garage with a bunch of stuff I don't use, but these deals are just too amazing to pass up :-)

Happy Couponing!  If you are interested, these are some sites I have been checking out
   

Crazy Blogger Lady

So I love blogs!  I follow them for ideas, on crafting, cooking, decorating, photos, etc, but there a couple I have stayed dedicated to because the authors make me want to be their friend :-)  Emily is one of those...  she has a weekly Embrace the Camera idea that is meant to get the momma's in the pictures rather than behind the camera, great idea, I think I will start participating...

Here is mine for the week,

I need to do a better job, this is the only picture of me in the last couple weeks taken with my camera!  Me and Hunter on a trip to the beach for kite flying....

Fat Frogs

The kids have been stocking the ice cream man....finally today everything lined up, we were home when the ice cream truck (that plays Christmas music) rolled through the neighborhood and they had time to get their money....

Awe- cool, refreshing popsicles!  Delish!

A little bit of home....

The worst part about moving away from a place that has always been home is leaving behind people you love.  Friends are a part of our family, and our family is some of our best friends.  We miss everyone SOOOO much!  So this weekend was especially wonderful for the Smith's because the Bond's came to visit!  Although the 30 MPH winds kept us from enjoying the day in the water as planned, it was the company of the people we love that we really wanted!

Crystal, Jimmy and Oliver (my brother and his wife for those that don't know)

Wes had to  show the Bonds Laya at Dog Beach, it is pretty funny!

  Ollie was a little crazy when he saw waves!

Audrey was just cold!

Cousins

We didn't want them to go!

We would be delighted if they could have stayed for a month!  Come again soon! 

Renewing Our Vows

That was the plan, at 10 years, we wanted to renew our vows.  We have been through some pretty rocky roads and we are completely different people than we were 10 years ago, so we wanted to renew our promises to each other, make some new ones, and share those vows with our children.  But this move changed our plans, we have to put that off, for #15 I guess. 

We ended today at the beach waiting for sunset.....after a few minutes of watching the waves, I was told to stand up and close my eyes....I opened them to my two beautiful children standing before me, Audrey holding an open bible....she says "mom turn to dad and hold hands"  and proceeded to "renew our vows".....what a special moment for us to have these two amazing children we have created with our love there to celebrate our love in special way!

Oh yeah, and I got a new ring!  BLING BLING!

PS.....I'm not the only spoiled one, Wes' gift was a 6 month membership to Punishment Training Center, owned by Tito Ortiz, who teaches a wrestling class!  Oh M GEE.....we're just simple folks, this stuff is EXCITING for us!!!

Through the Years



In the Beginning!



There are times in our lives that force us to sit back and really think on who we are, where we are, and where we want to go from here.  Tonight is one of those.  On the eve of our 10 year anniversary, as I watch my hunk of a man sleep on the couch (at 7:30 at night), I am pondering it all.  The laughter, the tears, and all the times in between.  The little things that matter most, and the big things that we cherish so much.  There were plenty of times when I wondered if we could make it work?  Did we do the right thing?  We were young, were we going to grow up together or apart.  I can stand here now and say with confidence, "yes, yes we will!"  We will walk through this life hand in hand.  Raise our children, spoil our grandchildren, retire and buy a Winnebago.  I know for sure that I have the perfect man, perfect for me.  The man that makes me smile, that makes me laugh, that makes me want to be a better person, and loves me just as I am.  I know I have a partner that will always be by my side, always.  He reminds me how life is meant to be lived, with passion and a light heart.  He is the kind of man I hope for my son to become, he is the kind of man I hope for my daughter to marry.  He's one of a kind, one in a million.   The one for me, forever and ever, AMEN

PS Can you believe I left my whole wedding box in Brownsville and have no wedding pictures here with me!  I hope you enjoy the pictures I do have :-)

Expecting Audrey

May 19, 2001

What we love most, our family and baseball!

Camping 2009

 

Mom falling, this is a regular occurence!

Let the Force be with you!

Father's Day 2009

 

Our 9 year anniversay at Sea Ranch

 

Outside Yosemite National Park



Valentine's Day 2011



Hunter Ryan --- October 4, 2004



Getting Ready for Hunter



Baby Audge



Smith River Oregon on Hunter's 5th birthday!



Rio

When its quiet, be worried!



Christmas Tree Day





Audrey Paige --- June 13, 2002