It's all but over...

Summer 2009 has been FABULOUS! Some of the highlights were:

2 trips to the condo totalling 20 days spent there...AWESOME!
2 trips to Lynden which means I got to be with my Kimmy and Kestin =)
Brielle is officially a teenager as of August 1st (not just acting like one)
Taya turned 11 and likes to be refered to as a pre-teen
Erik got a new job complete with a $6.50 per hour raise...YAY us!!
Taya went camping with Mara to their family's seasonal lot
Demi can count to 10 with a few made up numbers in between
Demi's ability to count facilitated the ability to play hide and seek, it's so cute
We got to the Lynden fair and Calaway park
We saw Erik's family, watched our nephew play in a ball hockey championship.
Our friends Stef and Shane joined us at the condo
We now drive a Suburban (no need to draw imaginary lines where each child is allowed to breath/move)
Celebrating my Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary was a gift
Brielle had her first real job and spent a month with my parents...a wish of hers for years
Erik was able to determine he would rather drive the boat than be on the tube (after he sustained injuries...go figure!)
Larissa (our favorite child) vacationed to the condo with us and now Brielle is vacationing with their family in Coeur D' Alene, Idaho
I got much time with my besties
I had Thai more than once
Lots of overnight guests
Aunty Penny and Aunty Lorelei made a beautiful birthday brunch/party for Taya
I had coffee on my mom's deck many sunny mornings
At long last I got a precious block of time with my dear friend, Traci (I'm now officially on the list of drop-in friends)
I had the most perfect sunset walk with my dad
I read more than one book
Demi had her first plate of poffertjes and first ice cream cone
I only got sunburned 2 times
Erik and I had multiple movie dates
We shared many sunsets

I am beyond thankful for such a beautiful season. I have been blessed.

The Best Vacation EVER...

Don't you just love it when the family all agrees that you have just had the best vacation EVER??? We just did. It was amazing. We were gone for two and a half blissful, perfect, relaxing fun-filled weeks. I am not going to get real "wordy" since we took a ton of fabulous pics that clearly reflect the great time had by all. The best parts of our vacation were:

the best surprise ever...Larissa (our favorite child)joined us!!!
wonderful weather...hot, hOt, HOT!!!
we had a few days of "just us" family time
the honor of celebrating my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary! AMAZING!!
bought a suburban (travelling just got a whole lot nicer)
we were surprised by J and Em (the boys finally got some "bromance" time)
we had a whole day of boating with our friends Tyler and Lana...good times!
we watched a ton of movies
fun get-togethers with our favorite aunts and uncles!
we played hard with our children
watched beautiful sunsets on the deck and felt so blessed to be sharing that moment!
we bbq'd almost every meal...you ARE the grill master, my love!
we got time with mom and dad...the BEST people in the world to vacation with...way to much fun (seriously, they really are)!!!

"Happy Daddy's Day"

Things I have overheard my dad say repeatedly through my life:

1. "Steak and Beans" diet. Eat beans so that sometimes you can have steak. He has taught me great money management tips!

2. "You will hit the wall, but you can still finish the race". I have seen him do this in many areas of his life.

3. Almost every day life is "fabulous".

4. "Everyone should have "happy feet". Thanks for every pair of shoes you put on my feet, dad!

5. "We weren't looking for perfect kids...just well adjusted adults". (Thank goodness!)

6. "Take a picture with your heart"...it seems as though each time he said it we didn't have a camera along. I remember those moments well.

7. "Life is what happens while we were busy making other plans".

8. "The happy Black family rides again"! Every time we all got in the vehicle. It didn't matter if we were going a block or across the country.

9. "I quite like having colorful speech".

10. "Aren't grandkids just the best"!?! and "It just doesn't get any better than this" -when holding the grandbabies.

Dad,
What a gift you are to me. Your personality, sunny disposition, gentleness, kindness made for a wonderful childhood. Growing up, we were always secure in your love. The fact that you were not a yeller, that you made time for us every day, openly adored our mom in front of us, and started each day on such a positive note was such a gift to us. There have been countless times in my life when I have disappointed you. But, when I see you look at me all I ever notice is the pride in your eyes and a smile that beams. I hear it in your voice every time you say "my girl, my girl Cher". You are among one of the most generous people I know and always have been. You stop and enjoy life. You hit the deck running when needed. You are a visionary. You don't cuss. You make everyone you speak to feel important. You care about orphans. You support all the we want to do in our lives. You have given us fabulous vacations. You have lived and modeled your "faith" in a real and sincere way and I always wanted to know God the way I felt you knew Him. I love you very much dad. Thank you for being "fabulous", "spectacular", thank you for being you. It is with that same love and pride that I dedicate this post to "my dad, my dad Dave".

Erik,
When I watch you watch the girls I see that same look in your eyes I always saw in my dad's towards me. Maybe, it's just a daddy/daughter thing. Each day I watch you give all to our girls. I love that you take time to hold each one of them...but have room on your lap for all 3 of them. I love the way you protect them and care that they grow up to be lovely women. I love that you take them on dates. I love watching you teach them life lessons. I love watching you play with them. I love that you embraced being surrounded with girls and quite like it that way! Thank you for being the dad you are to our children. I love you so very much!

When you love someone...

Someday I think I might like to be a DJ. I really should. I love music and really enjoy some from all genres. I feel like life should be put to music. In many ways, blogging does that for me.

I was sitting here listening to this song and decided this is the one I would use if Erik and I ever renewed our vows. I feel like it explains me/us. I know everyone has opinions, feelings and thoughts on Erik and I staying married. As I listened to the words I thought to myself...this is exactly how I feel...and that's why we are still married. Just thought I'd share.

Midnight Special...

Awwww...my time of day. All is clean and besides that...all is quiet in our home. It's Midnight. My time of day. As much as I wish I was a morning gal, then I would have to give up my nights. Once again, some of last week's loneliness spilled into this weeks comings and goings. I knew this was inevitable...part of a big move. While I had some teary moments and 2 big cries, I really did have a good week with a bit more activity than other weeks I have had so far.

Since this is the hour when I come to life I thought it might be fun to share some of what I do or look at during the wee hours (besides endless loads of laundry).

Favorite Pics of the Week:

1. The girl's sleepover guests and bbq (i especially like the one of Demi stealing Lucy's chips while Lucy smiles for the pic.
2. Our new deck
3. Demi into all sorts of naughtiness...we are in a really "busy" time of life.
4. A picture of Erik and I on our way out to "date night".
5. Demi doing her morning routine. Putting on her "outfit" a bra and brushing her teeth.


Favorite Websites of the Week:

http://www.ricekrispies.com/
They have so many really fun ideas and great recipes.

Picking out Demi's "big girl bed" and ordering it...so super cute!

http://www.target.com/StorkCraft-Soom-Toddler-Bed-White/dp/B000GHQ5BA/sr=1-20/qid=1245138128/ref=sr_1_20/176-2317994-0650459?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Atoddler%20bed&page=1

(Sorry I don't know how to do a link. I will have to ask one of my fellow bloggers to share how to do that. But, if you want to take a look you can copy and paste.)

Favorite Purchase of the Week:

A great chicken Marinade...mmmm I will definitely buy it again and post a pic.

Favorite Thought/Quote of the Week:

Courtesy of one of the best kids I know. Larissa posted this on her facebook and I loved it!

"God determines who walks into your life...it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go."

Sleep well friends...would love to hear what have been the highlights of your week...count on me to there to listen if you ever want to chat about it...at Midnight!

8 things...

tagged again!



8 things I am looking forward to:

1. going to the condo...ten days of bliss on the lake!
2. school being done. we are not used to going until the end of the month.
3. slurpees
4. grass. they are laying sod next week. yay!!!
5. 2 months of not waking up to an alarm.
6. my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary...how cool is that.
7. meeting my cousin's baby. they leave in less than 2 weeks to columbia to pick up their first baby...a son.
8. my next hair appointment with sadie. boy, do i need it!

8 things I did yesterday:

1. got groceries
2. hosted a sleepover(never sure how the word sleep makes it into that statement).
3. bbq'd
4. contemplated writing geoff bode a personal email to inquire how he got the phenomenal bejeweled score (336,500) crazy!!!!
5. sat on our new deck with erik.
6. went to walmart.
7. cleaned the kitchen 18 times.
8. bathed demi twice.

8 things I wish I could do:

1. be in two places at once.
2. protect my kids from undue hurt.
3. clean my house and have it stay that way for the entire weekend.
4. go on a vacation with my husband.
5. find the time and creativity to scrapbook or sell off all my stuff.
6. win the lottery...should buy a ticket at some point i guess.
7. have more self-discipline.
8. do something that makes a difference...just not sure what that it yet.

8 shows I watch:

1. brothers and sisters...love it!
2. young and the restless...they still are both after 20 years of watching.
3. grey's anatomy
4. private practice
5. big comfy couch (gladly i might add...half an hour of free babysitting)
6. big brother!!!
7. amazing race
8. bachelor/bachlorette...it's going to be the most dramatic rose ceremony ever this week! i have to watch!

I don't have a ton of people to tag. but i'd love to see yours on facebook or email!

Yay Mr. Postman!!!

GOD BLESS MY MAMA AND DADDY!!!! Yesterday was a fantastic "mail day". The only things in our box were a care package from my parents, a check from revenue canada with a small tax return and the Michael's 50% off coupon. We were pumped! I don't ever remember a day were our mail was quite that fabulous!

Our package included:
peach crystal light (my fave...best from the u.s.)
bunn coffee filters
3 pairs of shorts for demi and a cute little shirt
2 pairs of jeans for me
$20 cash for brielle and taya
4 tubs my favorite instant coffee
erik's father's day gift (cold hard cash to do whatever he want with)


Some of our favorites! Thanks so much mom and dad. We all felt so loved and thought of. You are the best!