Best Birthday Gift Ever!!!

I think my husband gave me by best birthday gift ever this year.  He is a very sweet guy, but usually not the best gift giver.  Sometimes he gets me a nice gift, but in my opinion, spends waaaaaayyy too much money - which for frugal little old me - ruins the enjoyment of the gift.  Other times, he gets me things that he is excited about for me - thinks I will love - but they miss the mark - Snuggie anyone?  But this year, he gave me a gift that didn't cost too much money, was thoughtful, was something that I needed AND wanted.

To truly appreciate the gift he gave, first, let me review a bit of my life since my birthday last year.  Last year, I was just about 9 months pregnant, living in an ugly little apartment with a stinky couch from Goodwill with 5 kids used to living in the country and being able to run free and make a lot of noise.  I was sleeping on a foam pad on the living room floor - because #1 - there was no bed and #2 that was the only room that stayed cool because of the puny little window a/c unit.

I was still working 2 of my part-time jobs, having coffee dates with my sisters, going to women's group at church and involved in a book club.  I turned 42 last year,  2 weeks later gave birth to V-girl, 3 weeks after that, we packed up the apartment and the 6 kids and drove from Minnesota to our new home in Georgia.

I left behind my jobs, my sisters, my church, my book club and my trusted babysitters....just to name a few.  We had planned for me to "try" being a "real" stay at home mom and if I liked it, we would see if we could make it work financially....if not, I would just get a job.  Well, as noted in this post , while I sort of liked staying at home, our finances could really use some help - but nobody wanted me.

What this has resulted in, is a me that really doesn't get away from the house much, since we home school all of that happens within these 4 walls too.  If I do get out, it is to haul one of my little darlings to some practice/game or another....no book club, no women's group at church, no sisters coffees....sigh....no peaceful car rides to work and back. 

I just really wanted a break.  I would have even taken a date with my husband.....but, all our trusted babysitters were still residing in Minnesota. 

So, fast forward to my birthday this year.  I have trained myself to lower my expectations of my husband suddenly turning into a romance novel hero and giving me the "perfect" gift....

Well, okay, let's be honest, I still secretly hold out hope that he will suddenly "get me" and arrive at the perfect gift idea that even I didn't know I needed/wanted!

Okay, so, what did he get me?

A night at a bed and breakfast......ALONE!

I took pictures and I will post more details tomorrow!!!

D-Man

Well, I have taken so long to do a post on D-Man that, I think his feelings are hurt!

So, here are a few shots of my first born.

He is a little crazy, like his momma. I like that about him.

Although, anybody that knows me, knows that I would never jump off a diving board like this....or with photographic documentation!

He is a really, really good big brother.

This is him doing school work while holding his baby sister.  I did not give her to him.  He went and got her, on his own.  I tried taking her away so he could "concentrate", but he refused. 

I wish I could have done school while holding a cute little baby!  Well, not my own baby or anything - but, hey, a sister or someone, you betcha!

Here is one of all my "little angels"....doesn't he look really, really, excited to be there?

I asked him really nicely if he would do this for me.  He looked at me like I was crazy.  Went and plopped himself in one of the waiting chairs.  Thought about it.  And, agreed to pose for this shot last Christmas.  He agreed to wear wings, but no halo, and I didn't even have to promise him a cell phone or new video game!  What a guy!

He just started playing baseball last spring.  He played the last game at the state tournament with a broken thumb, unbeknowst....(is that how that is spelled???)....to us.  They came in 2nd.

But, he didn't let that stop him from playing again this fall.  Now he is even trying a new position.  One that makes it hard for his momma to recognize him.

No broken bones!!! Praise the Lord!

My first born is smart, a little shy (at first), hustles at baseball games AND practices, helps out around the house (only when asked) and, generally, makes me smile. 

I will leave you with a shot of him doing an impersonation of ME.

To help put this in a little better perspective, this is me right just after giving birth to V-girl.

And this.....drum roll please....is my boy.....as me!

V-Girl cracks me up in this one.  She is old enough there to be thinking "What in the world?"

Gotta love him!

One Year Photo Shoot

My sister's baby and mine are about 2 weeks apart.  My sister was my official photographer until we moved south.  So, since we are in a budget crunch, I have now become my children's official photographer.  My sister's one year photo shoot of her baby turned out like this. 

Here is how mine turned out. 

Okay, I guess this isn't too bad....a little fuzzy though.

Here is what I think is the best one...

It is the closest I got to her real smile all day.

I got a lot of this kind of shot....

And this kind....

It is now almost a month since she actually turned 1.  I took these last week - mid September.  It was about 5:00 p.m. and about 90 degrees.  My knees were killing me I just can't squat - worth squat anymore.  So I was cranky, kind of like this...

We were both done at this point.  I was mad....disappointed and just thinking, shoot, I am going to have to try this again.  The bad thing is....well, my fuzzy photography for one...but when she turned 1, she only had 2 teeth.  She now has 6. 

The most frustrating thing is that she is the happiest, goofiest kid around and refused to show it in any of these shots.  She just kept walking around the yard and would barely even have eye contact with me.  Normally, she will look you deep in the eye as though trying to convey some deep message....but not on picture day. 

Nope.  Nada.  Nothing.  The dead grass was much more interesting.

No smiles.  Not even any adorable shots of her looking at me with her big blue eyes.

Oh, Kandi, I miss you so!!!  When V-Girl is old and asks why there are no pictures of her like there are of the other kids, I will just tell her it is all your fault.  You wouldn't move to Georgia with me!!!