Verve Stamps Mojo Monday - February

Ok - so I just found out about and ordered from Verve Stamps last weekend. In almost five years of stamping, why didn't I know about them before?!?

This is my first attempt at creating something from a sketch (I'm a CASE-ing queen):

I used:

• Verve Stamps' Ecclesiastes 3:11 stamp


• DCWV's flocked paper from their La Creme matstack


• Stampin' Up!'s Basic Grey, Basic Black and So Saffron card stock


• Spellbinders Nestabilities's Deckled Rectangles Large and Classic Scalloped Ovals Large dies


• black ribbon

10 years of wedded bliss

So... tomorrow at 1am (PT), Richard and I mark our TEN-YEAR wedding anniversary!!!!!

TEN YEARS!!! Where did that go?

Yes... it's been 10 years since we hopped in the car and drove from San Diego to Las Vegas - with EVERY intention of getting married. Of course, no one else new about it, but that was ok.

We stood in line at the courthouse in Vegas and joked about the several girls in line that were fully prepared for their wedding and were already in their wedding dresses!

We picked up some friends that were flying in to celebrate their anniversary, then just enjoyed the sights (we're not gamblers).

The chapel limo picked us up from the hotel and at 1am on December 19, 1999, we became husband and wife.

Our family and friends were not there the celebrate with us, but honestly - we wouldn't change it for the world. It was a moment - just for us. No pomp and circumstance. No lavish dress, decorations, expensive EVERYTHING. Just Richard. Just me.

I'm so very thankful that God blessed me with such a wonderful man. He truly is my best friend and my rock. We have a lot of amazing, wonderful, and sometimes sad memories and experiences that we've shared and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.

Here's to us, handsome! I love you!

Random videos

Silas!

Carter found a wallet-sized picture of Silas this evening as we were preparing for bed. He kept yelling, "Silas! Silas! Silas! Silas!". I tried to take the picture away when I put him in his bed, but he refused to give it up, once again yelling, "Silas!" The picture is in his hand and he is fast asleep.

I think someone enjoyed having his cousins here for a week!

Cousin Slumber Party

The plan for the night was to let the boys have a slumber party.

Lucas and Carter's cousins, Brandon and Silas, are here visiting with my sister and brother-in-law, Kori and Jamie. They were all excited to say the least:

Four boys - ages 5, 4, 3 and 2 in ONE bed...

...lasted about two hours.

It was worth a shot!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

I forgot to add these to yesterday's blog entry.

As we were enjoying dinner yesterday, Carter started being goofy, then we turned it into a game of him doing whatever we were doing. We were CRACKING up!

My goodness! In that first shot, he looks SO MUCH LIKE ME when I was a baby!

Two months!

Good Lord! Has it REALLY been two months since I last posted anything? So much for a blog!

To say the least, things have been busy!

I "celebrated" my 32nd birthday in mid-June by taking the boys to Wilson's Wild Animal Park in Winchester, VA with some friends of ours. It reminded me a lot of the NW Florida Zoo. It had everthing from Emus and (VERY personable) Wallabys to Camels (Ciao Camello!) and Tigers (this one doesn't pee on you as you walk past it - unlike the one at the NW Florida Zoo)... it even had a cute black bear!

Despite Lucas FREAKING OUT over some flies, we had a good time. Afterwards, we enjoyed pizza and cake before heading back home.

Then was Father's Day, with Richard enjoying several laps around the local indoor go-kart track.

Before we knew it, it was Independence Day and we enjoyed a relaxing day with our dear friends, the Comers (they lived on the same street at us in Pensacola!), at home as we celebrated America's birthday.

I went with a girlfriend, Cassandra, to a Nationals vs. Padres game at Nationals Park in late July... and within minutes of sitting in our seats, the tarp was placed over the field and the (four-hour long) rain delay started.Soaking wet, we ended up at ESPN Zone, then (only crazy people would do this) went BACK to the stadium after the game started playing again at 11pm! It was a LONG night, but it was fun.

My sister and her family arrived late on the 29th of July and we enjoyed two days with them before they headed to Canada as part of their vacation. It was a blast to have four little boys running around the house, screaming and having all sorts of fun. We even had the chance to get some professional portraits taken at J C Penney's. Check them out: https://www.smilesbywire.com/home.asp?AC=LTPP0282104932JCP
Under "Customer Name", enter this: TOBI PAXTON * need to mail the pictures*

We're looking forward to their return in a little over a week. At that time, they will spend another week with us!

That brings me to today... Richard's 32nd birthday. Once again, it was relaxing. We ran a couple errands, had dinner,

enjoyed his Baskin Robbins ice cream cake, then he went to see GI Joe.

So, there you have it... busy, busy, busy.