Double Digits!

McKayla made it to 10! We're all so excited, although this definitely makes me old. I couldn't help but reminisce about the past 10 years. It's been an adventure for sure, but she's been adorable from day one! I don't know if it's that she's a girl, or that she's an oldest child, or if it's her life circumstances, but she has always been so grown up and mature. I have to remind her all the time to just be a kid!


McKayla celebrated for at least a week! Monday we all went out to her favorite place, Boston's, for dinner, then Tuesday was the real thing (with a little lunch break from school with Mom and Grandma and a family party that night).

Friday was the friend party. This is the invite (minus personal info):

Fourteen 9 and 10-year-old girls in one place. Crazy! They watched High School Musical 3 and ate a lot of junk food. I don't think I've ever heard so much girly screaming in my life :)

After it was all done, I think McKayla had her best birthday ever. I love you sweetie! Happy Birthday!

Happy V-Day

We all had a great Valentine's day here. For some reason, the kids believe that the day is about them. Maybe it's the special breakfast with a fun little surprise each year, maybe it's the fact that they live for the valentine exchange at school, or maybe, just maybe, it's because Tyson doesn't know how to make reservations for only two, so the dinner plans always include the kids (really I think it's cute that he loves to take the kids).

This year we stuck with tradition. Crepes for breakfast this time - yum. Tyson and I made it out for a run, then an early dinner. We decided to go to Lone Star because the kids love it, and we were very all happy with it except Tyson. He usually loves Lone Star, but his meal came so dry (like it had been under infrared or something) he couldn't eat it. Finally he mentioned it to the waiter, who got the manager, who comped the meal, plus sent us a letter giving us 2 free meals there. That is how customer service should work. I was very impressed. We don't complain much, mostly because it usually gets you nowhere, but I will forever be a fan of Lone Star for their service.

But I digress...Valentine's Day. After dinner, the kids and I made chocolate suckers, then it was off to sing happy birthday to the birthday girl (Happy Birthday again, Mom!). Finally, kids in bed and Tyson and I watched a movie and ate chocolate covered strawberries. What more could a girl want than a great day with her family and chocolate covered strawberries? (Oh, and some very cute clothes...thanks, hon.)

I'm the Luckiest.

There's no way around it. For those of you who listen to me complain about the pain in the neck my husband can be and the way he frustrates me, you need to knock some sense into me. I'm not usually one for mushy displays of affection on blogs. (I've threatened Tyson that if he ever thinks it would be fun to hijack my blog and post the "Why I love my wife" stuff, he would wish he hadn't very quickly.) It's not that I don't think it's a good idea for some people, just not so much for me.

So then, on Sunday during our family's Super Bowl Party, I had the most amazing realization. The day before all of the boys had gotten together to move furniture at my parents house for their new carpet to be laid. We were joking about the testosterone fest and my brother commented to me "You should have heard the things Tyson was saying about you." I didn't even have to hesitate to say "No he didn't." No question in my mind. That's when I realized it. I can say for a fact that I know that my husband has never said anything negative about me to another person. I am 100% confident in that. He never would. He doesn't say it to me either, even when I ask for constructive criticism. Seriously, he's never said a bad thing about me to anyone. (If I'm wrong and you know it, please just let me live in this state of denial...)

When I told him about this realization, he simply said, "There's nothing bad to say. Why would I?" I never said he wasn't a liar. Those of you who know me at all know very well he could and often should say negative things about me. I'm sure he thinks them. That's how I justify my lack of being like him. I am not nearly as good to him. I complain about his lack or organization, his lack of time, his way of doing things, etc. I'm a brat. He's not. And just for now, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.