one decade...

My boy is 10 years old today. A decade as he likes to say. He is so thrilled. I'm shocked that it has gone so fast. I love this little boy. I love to stare at him. I love to rub his face, his hair, his neck, his back. I love when he is fresh out of the shower, hair all spikey, clean as a whistle. I love when someone gets him laughing hysterically. He is so funny. He knows how to make people laugh. His giggle is perfect. He is the most handsome thing I have ever seen. He really is. He is still so gentle and kind with little Molly. He is still so cuddly and lovey. He is bright and enjoys school so much...the friends AND the learning, I think. He is extrememly sensitive...never wanting to disappoint. I'm VERY co-dependent when it comes to Alex. When he cries, I cry. I want to wrap my arms around him, pick him up, and run away together until he feels better. When Alex is happy, the whole house is happy. His smile and laugh are infectious. Just look at him...doesn't he make you feel good?

These pictures are very random, but some of my very favorites. I have loved every stage of his beautiful, little life. Each new year, I think he's cuter than the last. Alex, I love you, I love you, I love you. Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

my happy yesterday...

Yesterday was a good day. A really good one. Long...but that's typical. I thought I would mention what made me so happy. These things pretty much always do.

1. McDonald's fruit and yogurt parfait. Why do I love them so much? I sometimes crave them over ice-cream. Seriously. I know...you're probably thinking I could just make them at home myself. Yeah, I probably could, but they would lose their charm. They are the perfect size, only 160 calories. I can eat 3 in a sitting. Yesterday was another day at Walmart for Molly and I. I promised her a treat if she would sit still. She was a gem. You know what the treat was? Her very own parfait! She was elated. Oh gosh...I need one right now. Honestly.


2. The Tijuana Brass. They make me so ridiculously happy. I think part of it may be due to THIS SNL skit, but I loved them even before. Skip to the 2 minute point if you want to skip some of the fluff. Honestly one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Dave introduced me to the TB. My sisters and mom used to love them back in the day, but I don't really remember. Anyhow, Dave's Uncle Jim was a huge fan, so Dave a few years back, downloaded a bunch of their stuff. I remember thinking...what IS this garbage? I've since changed my tune. The music makes me smile...actually it makes me laugh. I have it on several of my mixes in the car, and I like to see people's reaction when they hear it. Give them a try...they'll make your day!

3. I had to run by the school yesterday to take some cookies to a teacher there. Before I left, I had to run out to the playground where the twins were having recess. They didn't see Molly and I yet, but we saw them. They were running together towards the jungle gym...holding onto eachother's arms and laughing. I can't tell you how happy that made me. Tears in my eyes happy. I love them so much...and they love eachother.

4. Samoas. Need I say more?

What made you happy today?

Joel is 16!

My brother Joel's oldest son Joel is 16 today! I can hardly believe it. 16. Wow. I remember him as a new baby so well. I was already in college when he was born, but Joe and Thelma brought him to the beach house in Fenwick Island during the summer...and I fell in love with him. I'm sad beacuse all my pictures of him as a kid are with his mom for a project she was tackling, so the majority of these came from my brother. He's an amazing photographer.

Anyhow...look at the curls on this kid's head. He had the cutest hair! It's straightened out since then, and gotten darker, but he's still adorable.

Joel, or Little Joel as we call him, has always had a thing for the younger nieces and nephews. He loves them. Even when he was 5 or 6 years old, he couldn't get enough of them. He was tender and gentle and kind with my kids. This is Joel with Alex almost 9 years ago. And I must say...the kids loved HIM just as much!

Joel has always been inquisitive...and brilliant. I'm thinking he learned (rather taught himself) to read when he was one. I remember visiting Joe and Thelma when they lived in Puerto Rico, and Joel was probably3. He would sit on his bed and READ...not just pretend to read...books to his little brother Bennett. Seriously an amazing kid.

Look how handsome. He really is a spitten image of my brother...at least that's what I think.

A year and 1/2 ago, the Temple family rented anRV and travelled across the country together, making a stop in Utah. They left Joel here with us for EFY, then he stayed with us for a week. The kids were in heaven...and although he was a teenager by that time, and not showing as much emotion, I think he secretly was in heaven too. He played with them ALL the time. SO cute.

He even played Pretty, Pretty Princess with the girls...jewels and all.

You will never see this cute boy without a book. He takes them everywhere. I love it. When he was here, it actually rubbed off on Alex. He loves Joel, wanted to be like him...so HE started toting books everywhere too. :)

Happy Birthday Joely...we love you so much!!!

I love my friends...

I know, I know...I need to post about our trip. I am so overwhelmed. I want to remember every detail without boring all of you. I have almost 600 pictures and don't really think blogger would love me uploading ALL of them. Here's what I will say today. The place is magical. It really is. I get happy and giddy just thinking about our time there. I'm already able to block out the discomforts and exhaustion and remember the sheer joy. That's what it was...JOY.

I have the dearest friends. I realize I post about that a lot, but that's because they are hugely important to me. I love them. I LOVE them. Brooke and Michelle...as I mentioned earlier...were SO excited for us. They helped us plan our itinerary, book our hotel, they checked the weather regularly. Then...they showed up at our house the day before we left with a gift bag! Stuffed FULL of goodies...candy, Disney fruit snacks, Disney Pez, granola bars, fruit leather, Mickey Mouse pens...and THESE wonderful little autograph books. I can just see the 2 of them, smiles about to burst as they put these together for my kids, knowing the memories they would be making. Each kid had their own personalized book, with the perfect little dotted ribbon tied on the edge. We took these things everywhere. We didn't want to miss a single character. I'll tell you all about that in another post. Anyhow Brooke and Michelle...thank you. I love you both. I had 2 other dear friends pay me early for photoshoots, knowing we could probably use the cash on our trip. What a kind, thoughtful thing to do. Seriously. I love them too. Another sweet friend brought me 4 of my favorite cookies EVER for my trip. She works at the hospital where they make these cream cheese loaded, butter, balls of dough. She knows I love them, and knew they would be the perfect artery clogging snack for the drive. I love her too. So many phone calls, offers to help with the kids while I packed...I am a blessed girl. I really am.

And now...aren't they CUTE?

look Dad!

This picture was taken 2 years ago when Alex passed off his Bobcat, but it reminded me of something. A few weeks ago, our cute friend Matthew was getting HIS face painted at pack meeting. After the blue paw-print was put on his face, Molly whispered to her daddy, "Look Daddy...a clue, a clue!" Just another cute Molly memory that I don't want to forget. She is a funny, funny kid. VERY sleep deprived lately with our vacation and all...and a sleep deprived Molly is inSANE, but gosh...I love her this morning. She talks so much. Sometimes about nothing at all. I love her tiny little feet. They are so soft. I love the way she smacks her lips when she's having a conversation with you. I love her gorgeous, long, red hair...although it is completely full of static right now. I love her little overbite. I love the way she says Lilley (the middle name we are considering for #5...and my Mom's maiden name)...she kindof swallows her ll's. I love the way she wants to stand in the front of the living room and bear her testimony. She's just a doll.

last night's show...

I realize most of you will be completely uninterested in reading my thoughts about AI last night. That's OK...I'm going to write them anyhow. I promise a Disneyland post SOON...just don't quite feel up to it today. It was SO great, but I have a feeling I will have a very tough time trying to trim it down to a reasonable length. Anyhow...here are my thoughts on last night's show. First of all...the judges. Liking Randy a bit more this season. He seems to have more constructive criticism than before. Kara...take her or leave her. Simon...always my favorite. Paula...what did she TAKE last night? She sounded like she was on the verge of tears all night. She never makes an ounce of sense to me. Just a babbling, silly lady. Here are my reactions to the contestants...

Adam - He really was fantastic. I don't love the super-high notes or his black nail polish, but he knows how to work a stage. And I love that his parents are so NORMAL. :)

Alexis - Quite a voice for a tiny little gal, but I agree that she oversang it last night.

Allison - The girl is unbelievable. She looks and sounds like a seasoned performer. I predict she will be in the top 4. I love her gritty, rocker voice.

Anoop - Love him, but last night was just plain rough. I think he took the judges bashing quite well. He was horrible, but I wouldn't mind if he stayed.

Danny - Can't get enough. The dancing was NOT great, but the singing...his raspy voice...it melts me. Definitely one of the best 3 of the night for me. Finals for sure. :)

Jasmine - Not quite sure what she is doing in the final 13. She is cute as a button, has a nice voice, she just doesn't do it for me. She seemed a little flat throughout most of her song.

Jorge - I've liked him so far, but certainly didn't last night. The song choice was dreadful. It made me sad though, watching him get criticized. I like watching him happy...crying and happy.

Kris - I'd hardly compare him to Jason Mraz like Randy did. He's cute, plays the guitar well, but after watching it again with Dave last night, he seemed off-pitch a lot. He seems like a smiley, good guy, but there is something about his mouth when he sings that bugs me. I think he curls his tongue or something. I don't really love watching him.

Lil - She's great, although I think she gets a bit too much hype. I liked her last night. She has a rich, full voice, she's just not my favorite...neither is R&B though. I can guarantee she'll be here for weeks and weeks.

Matt - I love him. I really do. I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. I think he's amazing at the piano. I thought he was great last night...maybe not as dynamic and wild as Adam, but great. I hope he lasts. He's the only one I voted for b/c I'm a bit worried he may not get enough votes.

Megan - Interesting voice, cute girl. Last night's song was a bit wierd though,and the red dress with the push-up, overflowing out of the top business...didn't care for it at all. Her dancing is wierd.

Michael - I still have a thing for this guy. Love him to bits. His voice is beautiful. He seems so gentle and kind and genuine. I want him to do well. I hope he is marketable enough.

Scott - He was quite good on the paino last night, but I have to say, the singing sounded like something out of a roadshow. He is obviously talented, just not right for this show. I have a feeling he will be kept for quite awhile because of his circumstances, which kinfdof bothers me. I'm sorry. He just isn't as good a singer as the rest. Great guy, just not my American Idol.

Tonight, I think these 4 SHOULD be in trouble...Anoop, Jasmine, Scott, Jorge.

There you have it. Do you agree? What did you think of the show? Next time I will try to condense more. I promise...Disneyland soon. :)

all about Matthew...

My sweet, sweet nephew Matthew is 12 today! 12! I can't believe it. He was a fairly new baby when Dave and I got married. I was in love with him. I remember thinking his lips were the most beautiful, kissable things I had ever seen. He also had amazinly long eyelashes. Serious heartbreaker material here.

I've been told that he has always had quite a temper. I don't know how much of that I believe. I've never really seen that nasty side. :) It's been said that when he was a toddler, his tantrums were so intense that his eyelids would flip inside out. That is some serious screaming. I would have had a meltdown right along with him!

Here is what I, as an aunt who lives on the other side of the country, know of Matthew. First...he is beautiful. You can see that for yourself. A handsome, handsome kid.

He is good at basically everything he does. He was born to be an athlete. He just looks like one. You know how they just have that way about them? That's him doing a quarterback sneak with the blue jersey. GO Matthew!

Once again...he is beautiful. Right?

He has really taken to fishing in the last few years. He's fantastic at it too. I don't know what it is that makes one person better at fishing than another (it's just a rod and some bait), but he's got it. This is him fishing at my mom and dad's dock in the backyard. He brought his rods with him to the beach this last year, knowing our house was right on the bay. He was a gem, sharing them with all the smaller nieces and nephews. It's something that he and my brother Joe can share together. :)

Motorcross. Yikes. Matthew is a daredevil. No fear.

I see Matthew as an angel. He is such a sweet boy. He, because of his age, falls right in between the bigger kids and the little kids at Temple family gatherings. Alex has really taken to him. He follows Matthew everywhere...and Matthew lets him. I know that there MUST be times where he's tired of it, when he just wants to be left alone, but he never lets on. He is so, so kind to Alex. It makes me so happy. I love this boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!!