Happy Birthday, Pappaw! (blessing #4)

My dad, a.k.a. pappaw, had a birthday last week. I can't remember my dad EVER being excited about his birthday. But he's gracious and lets us celebrate it anyway and tries not to think about the increasing number of candles atop his banana pudding or chocolate cake.

Dad may not love his birthday but I do since its a great excuse to celebrate an incredible person.

I've blogged before about how great I think my dad is. Like when he sings to my kids,

the way he loves him some Oreos , and how I see his traits in myself.

I did a birthday post last year. Its all still true.

I love that my dad throws himself into everything he does, 100%.

I love that my dad loves to play with his grand kids. When we were visiting home last month, twice in four days he took a collection of grand kids out for the day, by himself. They did "Memphis stuff" and "kid stuff" for hours. The kids returned fed and exhausted while pappaw returned on cloud nine. He truly had fun! and I love him for it.

I love that even though my dad has a hectic schedule with church and work responsibilities demanding his time, he's finding/making the time to lace up his running shoes and pound the pavement. I think he's trying to show ol' Mother Nature and Father Time whose boss. Bob Boston will not "get old" until he's good and ready. I'm pretty sure that's going to be NEVER! and I love him for that too.

I love that my dad loves to text back and forth with my seven year old.

I love that my dad loves to listen to the endless chatting of my five year old.

I love that my dad loves to try and decipher my three year old.

I love to talk running with my dad. I wish I could run with my dad. Someday.

Thank you, dad, for being such a big fan of our little Hutchinson family.

We love you "too much"

(as Joe says).

(p.s. It goes without saying that my dad is definitely one of my many blessings in 2010.)

Best Compliment

This week my sister and I were discussing what we thought our dad might like for his birthday. We talked about the things he asks for every year (literally since our memories began) socks, ties, running shorts. Then Audra said the sweetest thing.

"I wish I could get dad what he really would love, a plane ticket to visit you."

I felt instantly loved and included, which I don't sometimes since I'm so far from home. I know my family loves me and misses me too but its nice to be reminded sometimes. Thank you my sweet sister!

Happy Birthday Dad!

(that post is coming, promise)

for Cortney

Grace wanted a "real" guitar for Christmas. Though Mr. and Mrs. Claus differed on whether she'd actually like it and play with, Mrs. Claus prevailed and Grace got a "real" guitar for Christmas.

(She's a little proud and excited. Can you tell?)

When Grace saw it Christmas morning, the first thing she said (pointing) was, "just like Aunt Cortney's."
Grace is so proud of her "real" guitar. She likes to dance around strumming and singing, especially in her room in front of the big mirrors. What does she sing? Made-up, I mean, original Grace songs, of course. If only I could catch her doing it. Its so stinkin' cute!

p.s. I'll keep trying!

"not me" Monday (blessing #3)

I absolutely did not share my laundry drama with y'all two weeks ago and promise to show you my fun laundry room "later this week". Nor did I forget that I hadn't promised to do that.

This is our laundry room. I am grateful, grateful, grateful to have a laundry room. Without this little room we would never have moved into this place and met so many incredible people and be enjoying this fantastic neighborhood and wonderful ward.

This space is . . . snug, cozy and every other cute word for TINY!

I have exactly 7.5 inches of clearance for me and my butt to get to the washing machine.

This room is packed with two furnaces, a large hot water heater, a water softener system, our washer and dryer and miscellaneous stuff like the iron, ironing board, our card table and chairs, brooms, on and on and on. You get the idea.

The kids have begun helping with me with the laundry. They are excellent at emptying the dryer and Ella is finally tall enough to empty the washer into the dryer. Grace or Joe is usually on hand to then push the clothes into the dryer. They have a great little system worked out.

So, to get back to my "not me" Monday. I do not have a tiny little laundry room, that is not cramped and will not not let me gain a single pound for fear I won't be able to reach the washer.
I have not put my sweet offspring to work in said laundry room and I do not smile to myself in joy that they are finally big enough to help.

p.s. I have not eaten cheesecake twice in two days (with cherries AND blueberries on top).

(another p.s. my kids being old enough and happy to help is definitely blessing #3)

Happy Birthday, my sweet (Blessing #2)

Happy Birthday, my sweet!

(yesterday)

I'm sorry to say that Adam's birthday was just a regular old Tuesday. Adam went for a run, I cooked, the girls went to school, Adam went to work, I had a primary meeting, the girls had homework, blah, blah,blah.

Thankfully we did get to celebrate a bit over the weekend. Grandma and grandpa watched our kidlets on Saturday so Adam and I could go see a movie AND get some dinner. We were gone for hours and it was lovely, just lovely.

We saw Invictus (we recommend it) and got Chinese/sushi (at Asian Star) for dinner. The Chinese food was good and the sushi was fabulous.

Grandma and grandpa had us over for birthday lunch on Sunday.

The kids were so excited to decorate this cake for Adam. Inspired by Uncle Ben's cake last month the kids worked their artistic magic.

I am thankful to have such a hard-working husband, a supportive co-parent and a kind friend in Adam.

Happy Birthday, my sweet.

I love you

p.s. For reasons that, I hope, are completely obvious Adam is blessing #2 this year.

trA nmutuA

More backwards blogging for me and, of course, for you.

Grace loves doing "art prachecks".

Occasionally these projects survive the day (the drying time) and make it to . . . the closet door!

Yes, we have side by side coat closets which have doors perfect for hanging art. And we do!

What else do you craft in the fall besides turkeys?

(Ella will do a non-school art project only if she thinks its cool enough.)
Oh ya, scarecrows and Indians! Is it "PC" to make Indians anymore?
Ella made this one at school. Its actually reversible (turkey on the other side). Nifty eh?

(Joe will craft . . . if he's in the mood.)
Joseph wanted to glue every last feather on his bird. So he did.
Grace didn't approve and Joe didn't care.

Happy Crafting
(for all seasons and holidays)

"not me" Monday

I am certainly not the kind of person who avoids doing things just because its cold outside. I did not notice on Saturday that my gas needle was touching the "E" line but decide it was too late and far too cold to get gas.

It would be utterly ridiculous to think that I actually ran completely out of gas this afternoon coming home from taking Grace to school.

Me? Run out of gas because it is was too cold to stand outside for three or four whole minutes while the gas pumps AND have to take my mittens off two whole times just to pump gas? Me?

Why ever would you think such a thing?

The high got nearly to freezing today!