Happy Birthday Dane-Bob!

Ice cream cake from Baskin-Robins! 

15 Years!

I know it's been a up hill challenge. Dane says I'm easy to love, but the circumstances within our lives have not always been easy. Thank you Father for helping him love me!

Surprise Date Night!

Where are we going?

Very funny Dane! HAHA

We went here!

The Drive

And why would they want to search our car? Hmmmm

Motley Crue Final Tour 2014 Ridgefield, WA

We leaned against the back wall and enjoyed the music of the evening (my favorite..Kicks Start my Heart, rink DJ would play it every time I speed skated as a kid). That was fun, but the best part was the people watching! Grandmas, kids, drinkers, and smokers oh my!

Spiders keeping Daddy up at night

Apparently it's too hot outside for the neighborhood spiders. Every night Dane gets woken up by the kids needing Daddy to take care of a friendly spider. I say "take care" because Maddy wants him to re-home the spiders outside and Christian wants them executed. 3 spiders kept Dane up last night. In the dead of sleep he was woken first by Maddy...

Whisper..."Daaad, Daaad." Poke, poke. Louder... "Dad!"
Not again, sigh. "What Maddy"
"There's a spider in the bathroom."
At this point Dane had just fallen asleep, it was about 2 am. Stumbling into the bathroom, he grabbed some tp.
"No.. don't kill it!"
"Then why did you wake me up?"
"Take him outside." She crouched down examining the little guy. "I think he's scared."
"How am I supposed to get him outside." The spider was about the size of a grain of rice.
"I don't know, can't you just put him in your hand."
"Maddy I'm either gonna squish it or I'm going back to bed" He grabbed his cowboy boot and pounded the little guy into the floor. "Problem solved, good night."

Half hour later

Christian comes out of his room. "Dad, dad!"
Seriously! "What?"
"There's a HUGE spider on my TV! Seriously I've never seen a spider this big!"
Opening his eyes trying to focus he sees Christian circling his fingers to the size of a baseball.
Well that's a spider worth killing. "Show me."
On Christian's TV was a spider about the size of a quarter. "Exaggerate much?" Dane grabbed one of Christian's shoes, missed it, spiders now scrambling on the floor to get away. "You son of a b****, get back here!"
Christian finds this very amusing, is hysterically laughing. "Get it!"
WACK, WACK, SQUIIISH! "Problem solved, good night."

But no, the big spider must have been a Mama spider. Christian found one more, this one smaller than Maddy's little friend in the bathroom. So small that Dane could barley focus his sleep deprived eyes on. How my kids can find all these little guys shows you how freaked out they are by these harmless friendly visitors. It was on the ceiling, Dane used his finger to dispatch the little guy. I'm sure it had siblings, so tonight will be another adventure.

post inspired by: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/03/spiders-are-scary-its-okay-to-be-afraid.html

A fathers love

I wasn't the first in this family to make up stories and tell them to my littles at bedtime. Dane's father on the nights that he put his children to bed would tell them "Kid Family Stories." A series of imaginative stories he made up to get the kids to sleep. To this day memories of these moments Dane has confided to me meant so much to him growing up.

Although his father worked a lot to provide for his family, he was an amazing father with his time at home. Even after his kids were grown he continues to show how much he loves them, and has implored his children to savor life with all it's highs and lows. Teaching them through his experiences to love and trust God. Teaching that our Heavenly Father is the one who has placed these children in our arms to grow, love and teach.

I am thankful for my father-in-law for raising a man that not only takes care of his family, but loves them unconditionally!

Our 11th Anniversary!

It's been 11 years since Dane and I walked down the aisle and said "I do." We've known and loved each other for over half my life now! Happy anniversary, honey! I love you more than my heart could ever beat!

Happy Birthday Dane!

"I know it may be a little late, but I just wanted to wish you a very happy 32nd birthday! I feel so blessed to have you love and care for me for over 14 years now. I truly believe that I have found my soulmate in you. Even though you can be a goofball at times, you are the best at showing me love and affection. You always prioritize my needs and make sure that I am taken care of. I understand that sometimes I may take you for granted, but please know that I love you more than words can express. You are an amazing person and I feel incredibly lucky to be your wife and the mother of your children! Oh, and by the way, I'm sorry but you can't have a monkey for your birthday!"

Graduate GHS

 Pictures to follow someday when I get a hot minute.

High School Sweethearts

 Prom 1995

Being that I hate shopping, I borrowed my sister's prom dress. We dinned at Multnomah Falls, then raced to prom (seriously broke some speed laws). Danced and ate chocolate-covered strawberries, then bowed out early to hang out at Denny's. 

Night at the Quest

Dane, I, and several friends went to the only club in Portland that allowed minors. This song started playing and I dragged my fellow swing choir friend Eric onto the dance floor.  Dane often reminds me of how he watched me dance with him while watching my every move. He then fell in love with this alternative song... 

July 4th 1994

Redland school.. fireworks flying. This is the date we tied ourselves to each other. Didn't know it then but 4 kids later, trial after trial... we're still here and looking forward to the vacations to come! LOL 

Photo by Ayla Fazioli from Pexels