Sunday's Songbird ... You Make Me Happy

This Sunday's Songbird tune is in honor of my marriage. 

It's been a rocky road, but we've managed to not lose sight of each other (atleast not at the same time). It's not always easy (ok, it's rarely easy!). There have been plenty of times that one or the other has wanted to give up. Wanted out. Wanted to run. But in those times, we can find the strength needed in the other to pull through the darkness, and find our way back to each other. We claw and scratch through the obstacles that stand in our way, and we stay committed to facing life together. Our struggles serve to help strengthen our selves and our bond together. We appreciate the good so much more having experienced the depths of bad. The light is so much brighter because of the darkness we have walked through. We're thankful, and we're blessed, and we know our marriage has and will continue to survive the test of time.


We may not have it all together ... but together we have it all.
We're not picture perfect. We're not fairy tale.
But we find happiness in each other.
And that's all you can ask for!

You Make Me Happy ~Will Hoge
You can read my baby like open book
Stop me dead in my tracks with only just one look
What you see in me is just some kind mystery
But they ain’t no doubt about the chemistry

And after all these reckless years
What does us kill us makes us stronger
Ooh and after all these years
Were the only ones I know
Standing here on our own

Cause you make me happy
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy 


Hey baby I'm not too glad to see
Well this might not picture a perfect family
But what we have in common is more than enough
To keep us going when the times get rough

Cause when the lights go down
And when it comes to you and me, girl
Ooh you turn me inside out
Still in love with you today

Cause you make me happy.
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy 

I wouldn’t have any other way
Still in love with you today

Cause you make me happy
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy 


Cause you make me happy
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy 

Cause you make me happy
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy (you make me happy)
You make me happy 

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Set the Arm Free!

After almost 11 looong months

Owen's arm is finally free 

He got his stitches out today

Hooray!

look at those bad boys ... yelch

watching as the stitches get taken out

 realizing it's nauseating (he must get that from me)
watching someone rip something out of you

tired himself out from all the worry

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Mom & Larson storm the Alley

An afternoon date with my oldest son found us at the Bowling Alley. Can I get a woot!? We haven't been bowling in ages, so I thought it would be a nice surprise. And since most bowling alleys now prohibit smoking; I actually walked away without a headache. Can I get another woot?! It is absolutely wonderful being able to walk into an establishment, and not not feel like you're suffocating in the thick cloud of cigarette smoke that envelopes you. 

We had a really good time. We talked about music. I mean, when your Mom is dancing up and down the lane; music is bound to come up. And if music comes up with Larson, the conversation is going to mostly consist of Michael Jackson. We talked about Michaels style, Michaels songs (and Weird Al Yankovic's remake of some of those songs) Michaels moves, Michaels death ... but most importantly, while wearing bowling shoes, Larson was finally able to do the moon walk. A feat he's been trying to conquer in his sketchers since "forever". Yep, gimmie another "Woot" for the boy!  

We're excited to take the whole family out bowling sometime soon.  

we bowled with perfect form

we smiled when not throwing gutter balls
(and laughed when we did)

we prayed to the universe to blow the ball
"just an inch to the left"

we bowled some more

and we rocked that alley so hard that we had to bring home a souvenir

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Mom & Owen get Tangled

Dinner and a Movie date night: take 2 ... this time with my littlest bug. 

Owen wanted to have the same type of date as me and Rylan had; "only a little different and better" (his words, lol).  

The changes: we went out for lunch instead of dinner (at the same place), went to a different theater (after MAKING SURE they had the claw game, too), saw a different movie (Tangled), got to wear cool glasses (3D style). Score!

I love date night with this little peanut! We talked a lot about animals being raised as food (his topic!) He has plans to open a school of sorts when he grows up ... specifically designed to teach why one should, and how to go about living a vegan lifestyle. He said he's going to change the world. I believe him <3

had to shop for our lunch

and then eat it!

he, of course, had to try the claw game
determined to catch an animal to show his brothers.
and whaddya know; he nabbed one on the FIRST try!
it's a redskins bear ... but we wont hold that against him.

while 3D movies make me a little dizzy;
this kid thought he was the COOLEST ...
being the first brother to see a 3D movie and sport the "wicked cool" glasses

we both had to pee so bad by the end of the film ...
props to my boy for holding it, lol!

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Sunday's Songbird ... Colors

Wow, it's Sunday already. This week flew!

I'm ridin' the red wave (ok, that was awful. I've never used that phrase before, and I'll never use it again ... promise!) as of about midnight, so I thought this song fitting. The hormones are raging; the mood swings are flying. You're either making my heart really really happy ... or I'm silently wishing you were dead. Often both at the same time. Figure that one out.

Yes, all the colors of the world ... are in me.



Colors ~Kira Willey
I am green today
I chirp with joy like a cricket song.
I am gray today
Gloomy and down like a morning fog.
I am orange today
Loud and messy like finger paint on the wall.
I am red today
Hopping mad like a playground ball.
I am black today
Strong and tall a great big bear.
I am purple today
Bright and happy like a butterfly in the air.

I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world.
I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world.
I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world are in me.

I am yellow today
I shine my light out like the sun.
I am white today
Soft and quite like new snow.
I am blue today
Calm as glass and cool like the sea.

I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world.
I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world.
I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world are in me.
All the colors of the world are in me.

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Mom, Rylan, and a bear named Yogi

Me and Ry Dawg went on a date this evening ... Dinner and Movie. 

We had a really great time together He's such an easy peaceful spirit to be around. It's a treat to be able to connect with each of my men, one on one. I'll cherish our "date nights" forever <3

we prepared our meal
a tasty salad wrapped up in a spinach tortilla

we talked about music, friends, favorite numbers
(mine is 13; his is 20)
and we took zany photos of ourselves

we played this claw game 5 times
(2 for rylan; 3 for mom)
before snatching up this cute little leopard whom we named yogi.
i mean, really, there was no other option!

this kid is seriously the BEST person EVER to watch a movie with
his laugh is completely infectious!

and in the end ...
2 thumbs UP for Yogi Bear
we really enjoyed it!

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Full Moon Shenanigans

We were once again found enjoying this gorgeous day at the park. Where else!

We were only prepared to stay for a few hours (didn't bring dinner with us), but as the sun was setting, and the moon was becoming brighter and brighter; none of us wanted to go home.  Sooo we stopped by a local heath food store, grabbed some things to make lettuce wraps, and back out to a park we went. A new one this time. We've driven by it many times, always saying something like "we should stop there one day", but we never do. Ack, it's a bad little habit of ours that I'm working to break. Live in the now ... shut up with the "one day".  

Anyway; it's a very quaint little park in the middle of downtown. It was empty and quite relaxing ... even with the traffic noise. 

We ate our dinner in the middle of a circle labyrinth etched into the concrete, told stories, laughed, and then decided to play a game of hide and seek under the stars ... because it's a childhood rite of passage to play hide and seek under the stars exactly 147 times before growing up. It's true. Look it up.

i was hiding under a park bench in a pile of leaves and pinecones
not sure i left any on the ground

working the labyrinth after being "sought"

hey you! yea you! up in the tree!
found ya!

he forgot to hide this go 'round
too distracted by the kale stems and dressing bottle

yes, it really was THAT funny

alright; step aside fellas,
the best seeker in the west (err, i mean east?!) is here to get things done ...

found you!

and you!

and you!

AND YOU!

and just for the heck of it ... a photo of my boys at the first park ... pre shenanigans
wait a second - are those bunny ears?!

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Identity Crisis

Almost 13 years after saying "I Do" ... I finally *legally changed my name.
And actually, I don't know how I feel about it.

My military ID card came furnished with the last name Paul (lady typed up the form without even asking for verification, and I went along with it; whatever) ... Changed the name on my Drivers License almost immediately after getting married to coincide with that military ID (the only thing the dmv required back then was to show them a copy of our marriage certificate). Having the same last name as my sponsor (husband) seemed the easiest most hassle free way to deal with military crap. And since Nick wasn't around AT ALL for that 1st year, leaving me to thrust myself head first into the military world by myself, easy and hassle free were my favorites! So, really, in every day life I've been a "Paul" for years. But legally speaking (tax purposes, mainly) I'm still known by my birth name.

It's important to me that mine and the kids' last names match. Had I been thinking more clearly back then, I would have hyphenated the kids' last name. I didn't. I haven't wanted to legally change mine, nor have I wanted to go through the legalities of changing their name in order to attach a piece of my history to them. I haven't wanted to do anything. I've been stubborn, and resentful, and decided to just put it off until (... someday ... )

Well, "someday" is now fast approaching! With retirement just around the corner; my active duty military id card is soon going to expire. As soon as that expires, my drivers license will only be valid for 90 days before I''ll have to renew. After calling to see about the renewal policy for my expired ID (expired in 06!); we found out that in order for me to renew I will need to either have my license display my legal (maiden) name OR have proof of legally changing it for it to continue saying "Paul" (thereby matching every other every day card/document I have).

Kind of had to get over my stubbornness and resent real quick like, and decide which was most important ... holding onto my name or matching my kids' (they both seem so trite when typed out ... but I assure you they're valid! :-P)

You can see which I chose, but like I said, I'm not necessarily happy about it. Not necessarily unhappy either. I don't know how I feel yet ...

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Happy Heart Day

Ya know I really don't like this day.  Like really really don't like it! But, my kids love a holiday. ANY holiday will do. So I had to pull my stubborn head out of the sand, and make it great for them. Nick went back to work after having 9 days off, so unfortunately he wasn't around. 

The kids and I packed up and headed out to spend the day at the park ... soaking up the gorgeous warm sun and fresh air! Yes indeed, the sun can turn an otherwise miserable excuse for a Holiday into something wonderful. 

We had a great day together. 

checked the mail before heading out and found this shoved in there ... <3

we love his handmade cards

love capturing their special moments together

sweet, sweet sunshine
pants and tapestry can be found on soul-flower.com
LOVE them!

they were sorting out their club house news

the pooches love the sun just as much as we do

splashing through the creek with bare feet
the universal sign that spring is fast approaching!

soaking it up

a delicious ACV drink in the sun's beautiful rays
cheers

blowing in the wind

and the jumping starts with Morgan
a trend was had ...

 

Hope your Valentine's Day was filled with a warm overflowing heart, too ...

but more then that; I hope you know you are loved year round <3 !!!

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