A Decade of Adventures

 We haven't traveled the world, but we've learned from our surroundings no matter where we are.
We aren't wealthy, but we're rich with happiness.
We aren't brilliant scholars, but we're professional smart asses.
We aren't prim & proper, but we're kind.
We don't have perfect grammar, but we communicate well. for the most part.
We aren't perfect, but we are a lovely mess.

Ten years is a long time, my friends, and to be honest -- this party is just getting started.

We learn more about each other every day. Even though I feel like we know each other better than we know ourselves, there is always a surprise among us. Why? Because we grow.

Tim and I first met each other through a retreat, or so we've been told, neither of us remember meeting each other. Our friendship started from a mutual friend and even then we both questioned the other person. There were practical jokes, an extreme amount of sarcasm, and extra sides of sass.  This progressed into a "date" that was sort of brought on by an intoxicated dare.  No one saw it coming and I know we were both skeptical, but something about it just made sense.  Sarcasm and sass can be a nice topping for love.

We have memories on top of memories, adventures leapfrogging adventures and stories that will make Tim blush, but this story, this home, this family is one that will entertain us for a lifetime.

As an experiment, I gave Tim some homework and then I gave it to myself - enjoy! (warning, Tim is a fan of comedy and shock value.)

Tim:
What is your favorite thing about me?  Your patience
What was your favorite thing about me 10 years ago? Your Ass
What moment did you fall in love with me? When you still wanted to hug me even though I was covered in poison ivy.
What moment did you decide to ask me to marry you?  When all my tools got stolen and I could finally afford a ring with the insurance coverage!
What is your fondest memory over the last 10 years?  You throwing up out of the truck window with the window up.
What was your favorite meal that I cooked then?  The "bomb" taco salad.
What is your favorite meal that I cook now?  Hamburgers... I feel like we have digressed in this category,
What is the most difficult thing about marriage, in your opinion?  Thermostat setting and the amount of blankets that you pile on
What's the best thing about marriage?  Balance

Nicole:
What is your favorite thing about me?  Sense of Humor, by far.
What was your favorite thing about me 10 years ago?  You had a boat.
What moment did you fall in love with me?  When you helped me move into my first apartment from Austin to Denton and my mattress almost fell out of your truck.
What moment did you know I was it?  Our road trip to Reno and the letter that you wrote to my Grandfather for his 70th Birthday was icing on the cake!
What is your fondest memory over the last 10 years?  Walking home in the rain from Dallas Night Club on New Years Eve.
What was your favorite surprise?  You are full of surprises:  leaving flowers in your truck (that I was borrowing), visits from best friends and generally just doing things because you know it will make me happy. Best surprise ever -- a tv to watch while I took a bath. Worst surprise ever -- a Christmas present when we said we weren't going to give gifts.
What is the most difficult thing about marriage?  most difficult after kids - watching what I say or do. most difficult before kids - trusting someone 100% takes time.
What is the best thing about marriage?  Sharing the balance of every day life and always having a person.

Ten years, 8 moves, 2 dogs, 2 miscarriages, 2 kids, a business, lots of family to love and laugh with on all sides and we're still making it! I'm not sure how it can feel like just yesterday and forever all at the same time, but it does.

Thank you for this one amazing life that we are living together. I will continue to make you dance in random places, sing at the top of my lungs (even when I don't know the right words), and cook badly. If you will continue to steal my water, hog my blankets and take forever to try on clothes.

I did.

I do.

I will.

Love you.

Two Point Five

A little time to catch up on this kid -- he's two.point.five now!

Dear Cameron, 

You are two but really you're twelve.

You're not potty trained yet, but I love you still.

Some of the things you say get me right in the depths of my heart. Things that I want to remember forever.

"Chep up" = ketchup

"Pick you up" = Will you pick me up?

"You happy, Mama?"  "Yes, I'm happy. Are you happy Cameron?" "No, I'm tired."

 "I be yellow hat"

"Father, Son... Amen"

When you are coming inside and I have music playing, I absolutely love that you run to the speaker and start dancing and singing.  It makes my heart skip a beat.

You like the ladies.

From what I can tell, they like you too.  You have a little girlfriend that you actually changed seats for during circle time yesterday. Your teacher's say that it's getting serious.  

I'm already nervous about the talk and at 2.5 it's a whole different talk then it is at 13.

Right now, I really appreciate that you are a bit more hesitant than other kids.  You try things but you tend to stand back and wait a minute before you do. I know this will probably change as you get older, but it's nice that for the most part, I know your speed and style.

Your favorites (by you):

Movie/Show:  Mickey Mouse. Einsteins

Song: All About that Base AND Shake it Off

Food: tacos. and pancakes. and waffles.

Number: 2

Game: Daddy

Toy:  Yellow ball and Blue Bat (golf and baseball)

Place:  my house

We love you Cameron, every little bit of you.
even if you aren't potty trained yet.

To the Moon & Back Little B!

Things I Love

1. falling asleep in the sun with a book

2.  dancing it out

3. seeing your kids whole body smile when they laugh

4.  the warmth of a coffee cup, if there's a sunrise or a beautiful view, even better!

5.  surprise phone calls from my sisters that end with a sigh because it feels so good to connect

6.  pictures

7.  seeing Tim watch Cameron &  Payton play

8.  seeing Cameron's pride glow when he figures something out on his own

9.  fresh sheets & new shoes

10.  the way my Mama just knows

11.  a drink by the fire

12.  planning something fun

13.  the beach, more specifically the sandpipers that run along the beach

14.  organizing and de-cluttering: i hate it, but i love it.
15. champagne and fireworks, in any order
16.  the way Payton kicks his legs when he's excited
17.  pass ports, airline tickets and luggage -- just the idea of them, even when I'm not going anywhere.
18.  family dinners, throwing napkins and specific food that brings back memories.
19.  adventure
20.  a good song and the windows down
21. saying or doing something and instantly knowing which person in your life taught you that lesson or who you get that trait from. i mean you know it so fast that it makes you smile.
22.  bare feet and sunkissed cheeks
23.  Payton's dimple
24.  ice cream
25. the little things hidden in the bigger things

Dear Nugget

Seven Months.

Can it really be?

You have the funniest facial expressions.
You scream when we don't feed you fast enough.
Like SCREAM!
You are so chill. We get comments wherever we go about what a good baby you are.
Your favorite toy is your brother.
You put everything in your mouth.
You are observing every.little.thing.
You're reaching and grabbing and sitting up and moving.
I keep warning Cameron that you will be crawling soon and then we're really going to have to share our toys.
You are still my little nugget, but I'm starting to see some Cameron-style-cheeks.
You like story time, especially if it's in Cameron's room.
I can't decide what your favorite food is because you seriously like them all..
Your teacher calls you "Pay-Pay". It's funny, but I can't bring myself to do it.

You and Cameron have wars at dinner to see who can sit up straight the longest.

It's actually a secret weapon that your Dad and I came up with to get you both to sit up in your chair so that you learn to eat right. Don't tell anyone ok?

7 months baby and we're living it up! 

I'll never boast that we've got it down, because things change every minute, but (as far as I'm concerned) it's kind of nice to say so long to the baby-baby stage.

We love you more every day and we are so thankful for the extra bits of laughter and happy that you have brought to our Benton World. 

Happy 7 months!

Happy Halloween

I never thought about what it was like to try and teach a little person all of the specifics when it comes to holidays and traditions. Explaining the difference between playing dress up and actually dressing up can be kind of challenging. Especially if/ when that little person all of a sudden has an opinion and likes to express it!

Cameron's favorite part of Halloween was answering the door and learning neighbor's names. I'm not sure how long we're going to be able to get away with not actually trick-or-treating, but I kind of like it.

This year Cameron was The Man in the Yellow Hat and Payton was Curious George. This Mama thinks that her boys are adorable no matter what they are wearing. I mean there is nothing wrong with The Man in the Yellow Hat and Camo Shorts! 

Side story:  Cameron's teachers had a Halloween party for his class and told everyone that the kids could wear their costume to school.  The thought of wearing his costume to school was more then Cameron could handle. Since I didn't want him to feel left out I grasped for straws trying to get Cameron to take anything that resembled a costume that he could change into. He wasn't having any of it. I quickly and quietly stashed his apron and chef's hat into his backpack and told his teacher that I didn't care if he dressed up or not, but that there was a costume in his backpack just in case. When I went to pick him up, that little stinker was living in the apron and chef's hat. Icing on the cake? In circle time, Cameron told all of his friends that I forgot his Man in the Yellow Hat costume at home. Grr!