The $10 Dollar Gift.

Last night we craved super taqueria.

Pulled in, and right by the door was what looked like a homeless man.

He sat on the cement staring at the ground.

Beside him was a shopping cart full of black garbage bags full of what I think was his "stuff."

It was dark, cold, he looked dirty, down.

Before I let my husband out of the car, I said, "Please give him this $5 bill. I bet he's starving."

What?! He's just resting.

My husband is not normally cold-hearted, but tonight he surprised me by the comment.

I replied with, "is that what you tell yourself so that you can ignore the problem?"

It was a harsh statement, but this man did not look to be just resting outside the door of a food establishment.  He was hungry. 

My husband walked by him and entered the restaurant.

I grabbed another $5 bill from my wallet. 

I clearly have more than this man at the moment.  I'm in the heated car.  I have a car.  I'm not sitting in the cold.  And, I'm getting dinner.

I walk over to him and in Spanish spoke to him.

Tienes hambre? (Are you hungry?)

"Si." He replied with his head still lowered.

Ven, comprar algo para comer. (Here, buy something to eat)

"Aye dios, gracias."  (Oh god, thank you)

I got back into the car and waited for my husband. 

On his way out of the restaurant, he approached the man and handed him $5.

My heart warmed.

As he got in the car I said, I love you babe, you are awesome!

My Boy, in the back seat, says, "Dad, mom gave him money too."

I nodded and he looked at me and smiled.  "You didn't trust me?"

I did, but now he will eat, and I'll sleep just a little better tonight.

This Kid Cracks Me Up!

You know how I've always documented my youngest's cute words and sayings?

If not, scroll through the posts labeled K-lish, it's her cute little language, err speech impediments, well...they're super cute.

Now that my girl is less than a month away from her 6th birthday she is still saying THE cutest stuff that puts a smile on my face.

**This morning, she was walking around with a puka shell necklace, you know the ones with the teeny shells, and was putting them up to her ear saying, "ooh, ooh, yep I can hear the ocean.  It sounds little."

**Last night my husband was sacked out on the couch around 8pm per usual (he's a commuter now) and K says, "listen mom, dad's SNORTING!"  Do you mean snoring honey? "oh yah that."

**When watching an upcoming movie trailer involving airplanes/war/bombing she says, "mom, is that about POOL HARPER?!"  Who the what?  "Where we went in Hawaii....pool harper, the sunken boat?"  Ah Pearl Harbor.

**(on a related note) She watched the Ben Affleck movie Pearl Harbor over the holidays with my husband and asked questions incessantly about it!!

**She still says CAH-leats when talking about soccer shoes, which makes DQ laugh.

**Her favorite recent movie is the MUFFETS and wants a MUFFET birthday party.  (Muppets)

**Her favorite song is currently "Forget You" by CeeLo but the Chicken version from the MUFFETS. Bok Bok Bok, bok bok, Bok Bok!

**Something new...well we finally came into the 21st century and bought a Wii for Xmas and well frankly our baby is a sore loser.  She cries if no one lets her win.  I think that's normal. Right?

Just to be clear, at this age My Boy had already been seeing the speech therapist at school, her teacher is not worried in the slightest.

Luckily K just has a cute way about her and is not at risk, in case you were wondering.

I Have a TEEN!

My newly crowned teenager asked me the other day...

"Where's my birthday post on your blog? You did one for everyone else!"

Well, usually she loathes when I speak of her on the blog.

I mean, she reads it, loves it, and laughs at it, but when I talk about her she often storms off in a huff about how I make her look.

Anyone who has had a teen or is in the throes of one now KNOWS what I mean.

We simply can't win as parents.

We love them, we give them their space, we applaud their accomplishments, we *try* to ignore their insults.

It's a slippery slope.

I've had ideas to make a video like I've done in the past, see here for her double-digits birthday.. http://www.themomjen.com/2008/11/in-last-decade.html

But, with the whole time thing, and the tears, and the time, I just didn't.

I did post a cute pic of her at 3 years old on FB on her special milestone 11-11-11 birthday.

"It has to have curls and not be ugly."

We did have a 7 hour party with 10 teens at the house with lots of soda, caffeine, candy, pizza, and Panda Express.

Surprising that no one puked.

We also had a sleepover with 3 girls that gave them 4.5 hours of sleep.

Then we shopped at a cool mall, but their exhaustion turned them into pumpkins at noon and they were zombies.

Then we went to the Cheesecake Factory for (more) soda, appetizers, lunch, and dessert.

Needless to say that the girls passed out cold on the way home.

So, no, I haven't come up with the best post or the baby-to big girl photo post for your birthday my dear daughter, but does this one work?

Maybe we can do that mall day all over again!
 
You're a beautiful 8th grader sweetheart, we all love you. 

Holy crap I'm going to have a HIGH SCHOOLER next year.

Oh the posts will write themselves.

For the Love of Baseball

This.

This is why I love baseball.

It's not who wins or doesn't.

It's not about the cool uniforms.

It's not about the hot dogs and beer.

It's all about the love.

The Balloon from Chili's

There are some days when something so small means something so big.

It was a long day.

School dropoffs.

Long week prior.

PTO meeting.

Working at the student store.

Telling kids over and over...

"one line," "two people at a time," "eat lunch before shopping," "if you don't have any money, go out and play," "no, we don't take IOU's."

Typical Friday.

Out of town for brother's baseball practice.

So he can practice on artificial turf for next weekend's tournament.

Long day.

Dinner.

Dinner with friends, relaxing, decompressing, nice conversation, nice time.

We get ready to leave and my baby says, "mom, I want to have a balloon."

Sure, why not.

We ask.

We ask 3 or 4 times.

Our friends ask.

We wait.

and wait.

and wait.

"Mom."

Yeah sweets.

"I'm sorry we have to wait so long, but tonight, I really want this balloon."

I scoop up my youngest child.  I hug her.  I kiss her.

I know sweetheart.  We will wait here until it comes.

What seems like an eternity later, a green Chili's balloon arrives.

The smile is worth it's weight in gold.

Thank you.  Thank you for making the day of my baby.

We leave and I smile.

She smiles.

Like she just won a million dollars.

Except dollars don't really mean much to her.

But, this balloon, means so much.

So worth waiting for.

A Letter to My Almost Teenager

Dear DQ,

You are almost thirteen.

Your special 11/11/11 birthday is coming up and I can't believe I'll have an official teenager.

This age is challenging to say the least.

I have been with you from your first breaths and it's getting harder to communicate my feelings to you as I'm sure it is for you..to me.

I want you to know...

1.  I Understand.  Even when you think I don't.  Life is confusing right now, you want what you want and I have to be the boss, that's my job.   But, remember I was you 25 years ago, sure I didn't have siblings close in age, but I know how it feels to be a teenage girl, and it's frustrating.

2.  It IS Actually Fair.  When I was your age I had to struggle and fight and want, now I'm the parent, it's the circle of life.  You'll get your chance to be in charge. Let's not forget you were the only one to ever get our undivided attention for 2 years. How fair is that for K and My Boy?

3.  I Love You all Equally.  Hard to understand, but I have a mom too, and a brother.  You all mean the world to me and I want you all to love eachother as I love you.  Just because you don't remember when you were 5 or 10, I treated you like I treat your siblings. 

4 Yes, K is Spoiled.  I will be the first to admit it.  She is my baby, my last child.  You were my first child and were equally spoiled for that first 2 years.  You have that special *first child/first granchild* spot, that's very unique.

5.  I have HIGH Expectations for You.  And, I always will.  You are special, you have so many talents and I want you to always succeed like you do.  It's tough being the role model for the other two kids, but you've done a damn good job so far.

6.  You are Brilliant.  Your mind works in a way mine does not, I envy that, you do well at all you try and things come easy to you.  I am jealous ;)

7.  You are Talented.  I will never be a dancer, I don't have moves like Jagger.  You do, you are amazing.  Your dedication to your sport is awe inspiring and I can't wait until competition and wish recital was more times per year!

8.  You Make Me Laugh.  You have a funny sense of humor like Dad.  Smiling and laughing are my favorite. 

9. You are so much like your dad and you know that I love him with all my heart.  I love you with all my heart.  That though always makes me smile.

10.  You are Beautiful.  Your hair, your eyes, your lips, your smile, your body.  Again, jealous.

11. Your Siblings Think You are a Rockstar.  They always have.  Remember when My Boy made you all the pink things in preschool and we worried he liked pink too much but it was all for you.  He still admires you and talks highly about you when you aren't around.  You know K is your mini-me in every way, she dances because she's always watched you!
 
12.  Golden Rule.  Can't be said enough treat those like you wanted to be treated, seriously it's like the best karma.

13.  I Thank You.  You have always been a faithful blog reader even when no one else has.  I see you on your iPod giggling and ask what you're reading.  You tell me "your blog" and it's the biggest compliment in the world.  I know I may have put up pics you don't like, that embarass you, or said things I should have kept inside my head, but this is my online scrapbook for all of you and I want you to enjoy it. 
 
14. Be Happy all the Time.  Being mad, sad, angry wastes life. Find the best and good in everything.

15.  Words Hurt.  I cry too, say only nice things to me, dad, your siblings.  We will do the same.

Most Important: I Love You and I always will, no matter what, even if I take your phone away.

A Thousand Words Thursday 10/13/11 For the Rest of My Days

A Thousand Words Thursday is back, I started doing this back in 2008 and told myself not to stop doing it, well I stopped and it's time to get back into it! What is it? Check it out here, http://www.themomjen.com/2008/03/thousand-words.html




Want to join me in A Thousand Words Thursday, read about it and grab my button from HERE. Place the button in your post and leave the link to your photo in the comments. Don't forget to visit the other links left and give them some comment Love!

Favorite Family Fotos From the Fabulous Fadventure in FOahu.

Sorry, I was totally going with those F's...

23 Floors High.
We encountered the rarely seen wild Menehune.

We Saved Him...barely.
Tragic.
Smile while you pretend to obliterate that ship.
This is a photo of me.  Oh wait, that's just a turtle impersonating me on the beach. Lazy days.
Outrigger Canoe Ride.
The big kids.

Possibly our Christmas Card this year, so act surprised when you see it again in December.
Did we forget to bring Daddy on this trip?
Phew, there he is!
 Snorkle Team USA

Aloha, Hakuna Matata, Hang Loose, No Worries Man.
You want to move here?! Me too.

What The Nervous Kids Do to Get Ready for BlogHer

Thanks to the California Table Grape Commission (Liz and Jim are amazing!), I'm headed to BlogHer in a few weeks.  It will be my first blogging conference, and no big deal, only the 3000 top bloggers will be in attendance.

GASP.  ((panic ensuing))

I'm a little nervous. If this isn't trial by fire, I don't know what is.  I'm going alone, I have no roommates, I only know people that look like 1 inch by 1 inch avatars.  If they aren't wearing their blog design on a sandwich board, then I'm going in blind. What is a newbie to do??

Here are things I'm doing writing about in preparation for my upcoming ER visit due to paralyzing social anxiety trip to BlogHer.

1.  Make a Google Calendar, bonus if color-coded.  I'm trying to keep it together.  I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row.  By ducks I mean parties.  And by "in a row" I mean this:
Some of the things are pipe dreams, you know just because you apply to some parties, doesn't mean you get in.  You know, like being left off the cheerleading squad.  Oh sorry....nevermind, another time.

2.  Over-Book yourself.  It's my first time and I'm saying yes to every party invitation I get.  I'm excited, I want to network, I want to have fun, but I'll be running amok around San Diego with my little phone GPS crying because I'll be lost for sure.

3.  Stalk the Twitter hashtags for BlogHer and pray that someone is more nervous than I am.  Oh and there's that word "stalk" again, I'm starting to develop a strange online presence, no? Oh and Nope, I'm still the nervousest.

4.  Make up Words.  Like nervousest.

5. Look into my closet daily and cry.  I only have Hawaii clothes, and that's like almost wearing nothing.  I have no style, or no sass in the closet.  I'm a mom who blogs, no one cares what I wear, especially me.  (insert intervention here)

6. Go to AAA and buy all the San Diego Gaslamp area maps, study them, then still get lost.  It'll happen, just watch.

7.  Give out your cell # and hopes someone rescues you from your hotel room.

8. Go back to old posts like THIS ONE, and reminisce all those years that I've wanted to go, and didn't.  Remind myself, this is my year!

9.  Find that one awesome friend or friends you met at non-BlogHer events (Kraft, Lifelock, and Hoover), pray nightly that they're going to BlogHer '11, find out they are,  and beg her to hang with you!  (Love ya Kelli, Hilary, Toni, and Crystal!!)

10.  Get there, put on my big girl panties, and have the time of my blogging life.  (Follow up to come!)

Adding Stalker to my Resume!

We've been on the road a ton this summer, and it's only just begun.

(ah Karen Carpenter....did you automatically think of "We've Only Just Begun?"  No, okay..moving on)

So last month we headed down to Coronado and stayed at the famous Del Coronado Hotel.

I know, posh.  Stars stay there and I can attest to it.

I stalked one at the pool one day and I'm oh so proud.

So you watch LOST right?  No?  Who are you?!

Anyway, Nestor Carbonell plays Richard Alpert, the one with the heavy eyeliner looking eyes, this babe...
 Yah, you can fall into those eyes and drown.

Anyway, I'm laying out at the pool and the kids are all, "mom watch me do this and that and look I'm swimming without floaties for the first time, MOM!"

And, I see this guy walk by and totally gasp, "WHAT, OH YEAH, GREAT KIDS!" super loud and really wanted to shout out, "LOST, GUY FROM LOST!"

So I'm squinting across the pool at this guy and his family and think that has to be Richard Alpert from LOST.

This hotel is famous, famous people can totally vacation here with commoners like us.  So I see a blond with him, his wife.  I google her on my iPhone.  Yep, she's blond.

I see two small boys head to the spa and I send my oldest over there to investigate.  "Let me know approximate ages of them!"  DQ gives me a look that was totally "mom, you've really lost it."

I google kids, yep two sons, ages 9 and 6.

DQ comes back and I immediately say, "are they 9 and 6?!  Can they be those ages, do they look like My Boy and K's ages?!"

Calm down mom, and yes.

Verified.  That is him!

I want to go up and casually ask him if it's really him.

Hubby says to walk by and cough "HaveyouseenJacobortheOtherslately" and I'm like, that is so nerdy.

But, I secretly want to.

Kids, wife in the pool, he's there on a chair reading for like an hour.

Suddenly mom and boys get out of the pool, pack up and head our direction.  I fumble for my phone and try to make it look like I'm taking pics of the kids in the water and angle the phone just right.

Holy mother of pearl, he turns and looks right at me as I snap the picture!  I sheepishly angle the camera toward the kids in the pool, who have upped and left for the hot tub and good mom that I am haven't noticed.

So apparently I'm taking a picture of water, and I'm totally busted.

Oh, but he is SO gorgeous, so much shorter than I thought he'd be, and he looked at me.

I'm sure, he gets stalkers paparazzi all the time, but dude crack a smile.

I write about this on Facebook and a friend says that her friend is also staying at the Del and confirmed he was there.

I secretly looked for him on the grounds and around town the rest of our trip, but didn't catch sight of him again.

And, thankfully the kids forgave me for not paying attention during my obsession and I thanked them for not drowning.

Dear Kids, About Ditching You Next Week...

Dear DQ, My Boy, and K,

I'm sure you're tired of hearing it, but dad and I are heading to Maui on Sunday.

Although you will not be joining us, I want you to know that we love you.

One day I hope you will love a spouse so much that after 15 years of marriage you want to spend a week alone together in a beautiful place.

In those 15 years we created 3 wonderful children in you and we are nothing but proud.

You are amazing kids, smart, beautiful, loving, and there is nothing in the world we love more.

Don't be sad.  Sure you will miss us.  But, we wouldn't be going unless we knew you were in the best hands possible that aren't our own.

Grandma and Grandpa love you like we do and will keep you safe while we are away.  I know and trust that your needs will be met with more attention and love that we give you during this week, please appreciate that as much as possible.

Don't for a minute think that we won't miss you.  We will.  I know we will talk about you and think about the next time we visit Hawaii we'll have to show you....x, y, and z.

Moms and Dads like us need this time to reflect on the time we've spent together and how the two of us evolved into wonderful family.   We need to remember that it was it was our love that came first and in order for that to continue to grow, we need to nourish the roots.

This week will give us that extra energy, that extra strength, and extra rest that we need to come home and be better parents to you.  I hope that this time shows you that dad and I love eachother enough to make our family the best it can be.

Even if you don't understand now, I know you will eventually.

Please give grandma and grandpa the love and respect they deserve.  They are so gracious in helping us out this way, we want them to know how much we love and thank them for this opportunity.

They do this for us because they care and want to spend time with you, to know and love you as we do.

Please behave, don't get angry or mad at eachother, consider this a super sleepover.  You know grandma likes to spoil you with treats, so earn them.  Help them around the house and make us proud.

If you are a little like me when I was a kid, I'm sure you'll make a phone call or 10 to us, just to say hi, hear our voice, and see how our day was.  It's okay.

But don't forget about the 3 hour time difference.

We don't want the time to go by too fast, but inevitably it will and we will be home before you know it.

Just think of it like we're at science camp.

Cocktail science camp with a touch of waterfall ecology, and lots of vitamin D therapy integration.

I always wanted to go back to school.

Love Mom (and Dad)

Sleepless Nights, Island Daydreams

Sleep?

What's that you speak of?

Vaguely familiar with the term.

It's no surprise.

All this is coming up....
I'm counting down the days, the hours.

I'm shopping for island wear.

I'm starting to write out the kids' school and activity schedules for grandma and grandpa.

I'm picturing myself in the crystal blue waters swimming with Nemo, Dory, and Crush.

I'm debating whether I'll wake at 2:45am on vacation to drive to Haleakala with my husband to see the sunrise atop a volcano. (I probably will...I think)

I'm anticipating the body wrap I have scheduled at the Westin Maui.

I'm looking forward to gaining 3 hours of precious couple time.

I may possibly be obsessing on how this may turn out like an episode of LOST.

I am afraid of Others.

I hope Sawyer is on my flight, and calls me "Freckles."

I'm hoping and praying and desperately begging that the days are long and the memories are held on forever.

So there are just a few things on my mind. 

Probably why I can't find slumber.

I'll sleep on the plane.

Maybe.

The One Where I Marry My Phone and Instagr.am is the Maid of Honor

So I've been addicted to my iPhone.

It doesn't leave my side.

It has it's own blankie.

I treat it like it's a egg in my pocket.

Like a newborn.

One without dirty diapers or colic.

Yeah, disturbing, I know.

Plus i'm addicted to Instagram.

It's like Photoshop, but funner.

It's social media meets photography, meets daily life, meets, blogging, meets Godzilla.

Or something like that.

And it's for iThings (Touch, Phone, Pad....)

I love taking pictures, I love photo editing, and I love my phone, which can do it all.

*give me a moment while I marry my phone*

Some of the fun I've been having:

Puffy white cotton.
Rainbow dreams.
Daddy/daughter pedicure time.
Pitching practice.  Alternatively titled, "man that field has a lot of trash on it!"
But dad, I'm tired and hungry and want all your attention and I don't know why i'm crying but WAHHH.
Happy Haircut. Alternatively titled, I can't keep crumbs of my lips.
My new shirt.

On that boob.  I mean note.  I'm out.

Momma's Gotta Brand New Toy

New toys are fun.

Not like Pokemon and LalaLoopsy.

Those are weird and have funny names.

And, what does that LalaLoopsy doll do, just flops around.

I don't get it.

Anyway.

Toys for moms.

And gutter minds can save it, because I'm talking Apple products.

No, not the fruit.

Follow me here people!

Apple, as in iPad, iPod, iPhone.

My job requires this, I'm sure of it...
Plus, this is satisfying my need for a new kitty, puppy, or baby.

I'm good, I'm set.

I'm logged in, logged on, online.

It's so awesome, how did I live without it for so long?

Need new app ideas.

Changed my password protect, the kids figured out my last one.

They are SO SMART.

I see their drool when they look at my toy.

But it's hands-off, seriously.

I WILL teach it to bite.

It's a smart phone, it can learn anything.

I feel smarter just owning it.

She needs a name.

A "smart" one.

Suggestions?

I'm addicted already.

I can check-in anywhere.

The hall bathroom,  the liquor store around the corner,  the freezer section at Safeway.

Okay, I'm not sure about that last one, but I bet I could try.

I'm in love.

Again.

I Think I Need to See a Vet for This.

Okay, I've had baby blues lately.

You may remember.

Now I have them again.

For this:

ohmygodisn'tthatthecutestthingyou'veeverseeninyourwholdwidelife?

Isn't it??

DQ's friend just got a puppy that looks just like this.

I dropped her off at the house and told her, "nah, I don't need to go in to see the new dog."

I hate dogs.

Normally.

But, then the mom beckoned me in.

And,  I saw this little guy.

It wasn't love at first sight, but the little guy grew on me.

Then I picked him up and cuddled.

He didn't pee on me.

Then, I loved him.

I stayed and stared at him and everyone was talking around me, but they just sounded like that teacher from the Peanuts cartoon.

I couldn't think.

I couldn't hear.

I couldn't make a coherent sentence.

But, I know when I got home, I couldn't stop thinking about him either.

I mean HE IS SO CUTE.

He looked like a little bear cub.

He peed on his little pee pad.

He nibbled on his chew toy.

He crunched his lunch with those little puppy teeth.

When he whined it sound like, "Awwww..." like he was saying, Aw man don't put me down, I promise I won't pee on you!

It was fricken adorable.

Again, nope, not interested in babies of the human variety.

Been there, closed that shop up for businees.

But, these teeny tiny little furry creatures are YANKING at my heartstrings.

Do you take cold showers for this kind of thing?

My Husband is 5 Years Old, Apparently

Seriously.

My husband is weird.

I love him and all, but often I do not follow his line of thinking.

The other day we were watching televsion.

Someone got all excited about something.

Hubby comments, "He's so excited I can see his sticks!"

WHAT THE WHAT?

My husband is known for saying strange things, but this worried me.

His sticks?

That sounds dirty.

What are you talking about babe?

"His sticks, you know like Kermit?"

Um frog references, those of the Muppet variety are completely lost on me.

"You know, the way they animate him, with the sticks?"

Have you been drinking?

"NO! It's noon.  But, remember on Seasame Street or the Muppet Show, Kermit would get all excited and then he'd get all flail-y and his sticks would show?!"

OH. Yeah!

You are weird sweetie, but I love that about you.

"Remember when Fozzy used to....."

Really?  More Muppet references?!

Please go talk to the kids about this.

"Aw." (pouts)

Keeping Busy

Just coming off a 4 day girl's getaway, we're on the road again.

Going to the Happiest Place on Earth.

No, not Chuck E. Cheese.

No, not Target on the day after Christmas.

Disneyland.

It's something to get my mind off missing my best girlfriends.

Having spent a long weekend with my sistas that have since moved about the country, originally from my home town, it's usually hard to say goodbye.

Especially when the Y& T concert and NetiPot were a few of our highlights of the weekend.

((Inside Joke))

You'd be surprised how crazy 5 moms can get.

It had been a long 18 months since we'd last seen eachother, normally it's only 12, but with 13 children between us, life gets in the way.

Good thing we'll be back together this fall, I can't see enough of these ladies, who I always wish lived next door.

Not like that pit bull who really does live next door.

Dogs scare me.

Anywho.

Disney. Happiest Place.

K is going to FLIP OUT when she realizes that Rapunzel graces the theme park now, the newest princess has a meet and greet event and personally I'm excited too.

I know if there's a karaoke machine nearby, I will be belting out "Mother Knows Best" because god only knows that I know all the words to every song on the Tangled soundtrack.

That we listen to about 52 times a day in the car.

Every day of the week.

So Disney tomorrow.

California Adventure tomorrow.

2 parks, one day.

Universal Studios Thursday.

Distracted.

With constant activity.

I think I'll be sleeping Friday through April to recover.

Goodbye Baby- and Toddler-hood.

Today my youngest turns five.

My baby.

Is 5.

Next week I will register her for Kindergarten.

In May I will bid farewell to the preschool that she has gone to for the past two years.

The same school DQ and My Boy went.

This time I won't say, "see you in a few years!"

This milestones says goodbye to the baby and toddler years.

Hello school aged child.

My last child.

My baby.

Is five.

The Eyes Have It (and the Teeth Do Too!)

Last week, DQ got fitted for contact lenses.

It was her dream come true.

She's complained about her glasses since day one, and I don't blame her, she's at that age where looks are everything.

Hopefully now, dodge ball won't be as embarassing.

She was beaming all week.

Yesterday, she had more hardware removed.

Braces off after nearly FOUR (I miscalculated and added a year previously) years, my tween can see her teeth!


Oh the gorgeous-ness.

Where did my baby girl go?

....and Forever to Go

Almost 19 years ago my hub and I met.

In college.

On one occasion he came into my dorm room with two other guys.

They were going around meeting (read: scamming on) all the girls on the different floors.

It was kinda slimy, yet intriguing. He was cute.

On another instance we were both in the elevator, I lived on the 5th floor, he on the 4th. Elevator meet ups happened a lot.

Him:  So you live in _________?
Me:  Yeah, so.
Him:  Well I live in _________, and I don't have a car. You do. You can give me a ride home some time.
Me:  (thinking this is the worst pickup line ever) Yeah, okay.

I was dumb.

But, I sorta enjoyed all the attention.

Did I mention he was cute?

Flash forward 19 years.

Maybe he wasn't good at small talk, but My hub has always had a knack for writing.

I have a box full of letters he wrote to me over the years, birthday and anniversary cards I saved.

Mostly were Snoopy cards, WHAT?! Snoopy rocks.

But, the sweetest thing was that at the end of all his writing, before he signed his name, he'd write the length of time we were together and the following words

___ ...and Forever to Go!

Whether it was our 4 month dating anny or this year's 14 year wedding anniversary the ...and Forever to Go hits me deep in the heart every. single. time.

Special. Personal. Sweet. Our Thing.

A few months ago, my favorite jewelry maker held a contest.

The rule was "design my next necklace and win it!"

My favorite saying had to go on this necklace.

What an honor it would be to win and wear this and retell our story over and over.

I won.

The gorgeous necklace comes adorned with a June crystal signifying our wedding month.

It's precious and I wear it with much love.

Thanks Kristen!

Thanks Hubby for the past 14 years 3 months and forever to go!