Can that even be possible??? I look back at our wedding picture and we don't even look old enough to be getting married (of course we were young, I had just turned nineteen days before and Joe was almost twenty-three). Joe and I have been together almost half my life, we came together as kids and have grown together to become one. He is the strength that I lean on, he is the hardest working and most giving man I know. He will do anything for anyone without a question asked. When times are tough he is always the first to assure me that everything will be OK because I'm one who will dwell on the negative.

Don't get me wrong though, it hasn't always been a bed of roses. We've managed to work through some trying times over the years . . . we aren't perfect! I'm not going to say that I love to listen to him snore every night as soon as his head hits the pillow or the sound of him blowing his goose call in the house every single time I pick up the phone or even the fact that he's not a handyman and can't touch something without screwing it up, but through all his faults (and there's plenty of them) and even some of mine (because the people who know me know that I'm nearly perfect LOL Just kidding . . . I'm far from perfect!) I know that he will always be there by my side. I look forward to what the next fifteen years brings us. Happy anniversary Joe! I love you!!!

I can't believe it's already been nine years since we welcomed you into our lives. You've grown from this . . .
into quite the little man . . .
Jakob requested BBQ'ed burgers and onion rings for his birthday dinner. As for birthday cake well . . . Jakob DOES NOT like birthday cake! Who doesn't like birthday cake??? He asked that Grandma make him a pumpkin pie and gingerbread men cookies instead. So that's exactly what he had . . .

It's hard to believe it's already been a year, Joe still talks about his Dad everyday. What makes this day even more special is that it's also Veteran's Day. Joe Sr. served our country in the United States Army in Germany back before he met and married Cathy. Just a couple of days after his passing when he was returned to us, my heart sank to see Cathy being handed that folded United States flag. Joe's Dad was a true American in every sense of the word . . . a Union Lineman, a hard worker, a FORD truck driver, country music listener and a U.S. Veteran.

I can remember that phone call (how could I ever forget the phone ringing at 2:45AM on my Birthday) that whole day was filled with phone call after phone call with updates. We left the next morning early and drove 26-hours straight through to Iowa, with our hearts stopping every time one of our phones rang. We made it in time and was able to see Joe and was ever so thankful that he knew we were there. I just re-read my post on my blog from last November, it still feels like yesterday that we were dealing with this, the pain and sadness is still very strong. My heart aches for my husband when I see how much he still misses his Dad. After spending so many days with my MIL just recently, it also pained me to see how much her heart is still breaking for the man that she was married to for nearly forty years.

We're so glad that he wanted to be brought back home to Washington State to be laid to rest. When Joe got off work we headed out to the towers, we took some yellow carnations, we spent some time there with him . . . although it's been a year since Joe's passing our memories still linger from that cold November day. Joe, you'll always be in our hearts, you'll always be in our memories . . . we miss you!

Veteran's Day has always had a special meaning to me . . . my Dad served during the Vietnam War. As I've gotten older I've been able to appreciate what his service really means not just to me, but to our entire country. Even though my Dad hates that all his daughters always have their cameras out during family functions in hopes of not missing that special moment and with 3+ cameras going at once someone's sure to catch everything. I am glad that he was able to capture and save his memories, good and bad while he was serving overseas. The photos he collected while over there have always stayed between the covers of those albums. My Mom and I dug through all those pictures, we wanted to use some of his memories to show how proud we are of him . . . Thanks Dad!

Joe can be so creative, take a look at what he gave me for my Birthday . . . now a bottle of banana rum isn't what I'd usually receive, but don't you just love that palm tree? He also made me breakfast, stuffed french toast with cherries on top . . . it was Delicious! Finished up breakfast in time to head to the Veteran's Day parade. We've been going to watch the parade for years now and it's fallen on our Birthday a couple of times. We headed out to my parents for our favorite Birthday dinner, my Mom's famous Lasagna. Oh and let's not forget Lemonade Stand Pie, it's like a piece of frozen heaven. I also received some great gifts too . . . some Scenic Route goodies, a Starbucks gift card and another snowman to add to my collection. So, after a day like today, turning thirty-four wasn't too bad! You're only as old as you feel, right?
Thanks for the pics Nee'!

It's been almost a week already and I'm just now getting around to posting pics of Jakob's scary costume. God only knows why Jake picked this, he absolutely hates scary Halloween things . . . he even had a total meltdown at the Halloween store when we stopped by to pick up a couple of things. But for some reason it's different when he's the one behind the mask.

Kaitie decided that she was officially too old for Trick-or-Treating! Before we headed out a group of boys from her school showed up at our house and all she could say was that she was embarrassed for them! So, we left the house with Kaitie as HERSELF and this scary little monster!