Georgia on My Mind...

I feel giddy. It has been scheduled. Much of the Ryan family, including Mom and Dad, is meeting in Georgia the first week in June. Since only Kelly and Kathryn have met Ryan (non-Skyping, that is) we are considering this family vacation Ryan's Coming-Out. Be prepared to gush.

I'm also finding myself excited to be in the mountains again. It feels like ages since we went on a hike, and the highest elevation I've seen in a long time was driving to Clermont for a baptism! Literally.

Hot Buttered Popcorn...

Paris and I have often mused about how funny it is that our kids' diapers smell like buttered popcorn until they start table food.

I spent the better part of this afternoon fruitlessly tracking a messy Ryan diaper. I could smell it, I just couldn't find it!

Felt pretty silly when I remembered we had a cousin movie party earlier with - you guessed it - buttered popcorn. The real thing! Who'd have guessed?

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our ninth wedding anniversary. Part of me can't believe it's been 9 years, but a bigger part of me can't believe it's only been 9 years. It just feels so natural to be married to Paris I feel like we've been together forever.

Last week I didn't feel old, even after celebrating my birthday. But today I kind of do after digging this picture out and taking a good look at it. (I think Paris looks particularly young here.)

A flood of wonderful memories attack me now as I look through old pictures. In honor of nine years, here are 9 memories from those early days...

1. Bike Riding groceries home from Macy's late at night
2. Williams Sonoma and THE PLATTER! Augh.
3. Proudly calculating the cost of our carefully prepared meals to the penny
4. "Plink" at the UVSC dance
5. Paris's unintentional-Mohawk
6. Racquetball and friendly competition
7. Cheese Curd from the Creamery (ANYTHING from the Creamery for that matter)
8. Rock Canyon Park/SFLC Elevator (Ha!)
9. The Dodge Shadow - R.I.P.

Paris, I love you. Since this is a semi-public site I'll save the gushy details for a letter just for you. But I do love you and appreciate you and your love through our ups and downs. You're the best.

What does Steve Martin say? 9 years and 3 kids later and we still got the heat? :)

Maturity...

Snuggling Atticus last night...

Me (Teasingly): You are getting so grown up I might have to call you my little man from now on. You are way too grown up for your age!

Atticus: I know...Because I have a mustache. (Pause.) And pro-bly a uni-brow.

It's true. Both counts.

Monday, Monday...

It occurs to me this morning that I like Mondays. There's something refreshing about cleaning up from the weekend and getting organized for the week ahead. In my school/career days I dreaded Mondays, but as a Mommy I like them. Go figure.

Forgiveness...

This week I had the opportunity to reread a talk given by President Hinckley in the October, 2005 General Conference called Forgiveness. Brought back memories, some sweet and some shameful.

I remember sitting in the chapel in Orange Park and feeling so touched the first time I heard this that I wept. I was pregnant at the time. I figured that played a big part in the waterworks. As I read it again this week I felt the same emotion, particularly reading the story of the Turkey-Lady.

I have been blessed with a personality that doesn't become offended easily, but I do tend to hold onto grudges once I've developed them. I suppose I feel an allegiance to justice. (Like I have the right to decide what is just!) Example: Ryan Carter. Oh, the shame!

Point is, this talk speaks to me. Love it. I've changed a word in the closing remarks for emphasis:
"May God help me to be a little kinder, showing forth greater forbearance, to be more forgiving, more willing to walk the second mile, to reach down and lift up those who may have sinned but have brought forth the fruits of repentance, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more."

This is going to be my Biggie for 2009. I'm going to start working on it now, though, so I don't have to eat the whole elephant on January 1st. I think this will be even harder than 2008's Biggie has been to date.

Wyatt's Birthday, In Review...

I haven't recorded Wyatt's fabulous birthday yet...

Last Friday we got up bright and early to take Nanny and Cindy-Lou-Too to what I can only describe as a doggy amusement park. It was Wyatt who was most amused, though. Cindy-Lou sat between Nanny's legs most of the morning while Wyatt ran around, collected tennis balls, met new dogs and even tried to mark his territory once. We didn't even have to pay an entry fee for him.

Then we went to the Carters to meet Tricia and her family. I must admit I was a little nervous...I've never had an "Internet meeting" before. Felt a little like a blind date. :) We had an absolute blast! Tricia was a joy to visit with and our families got along famously. We're just angry with them for insisting on living in NC...The nerve.

Wyatt was traumatized by wearing a life-jacket but eventually recovered. He oversaw the lake activities safely from the shore or perched above us on the dock, like a Birthday King.

The water was warm and clear. The sun was out. We feared we'd never pry Atticus from the 3-person tube. Bless the Carters for letting him ride around and around with other people rotating around him. He finally relinquished his spot after Pres. Carter tried to dump him. :) Then he, Carter, and Jonah had fun horrifying their parents by swimming progressively further from shore and looking for snakes.

Debbie even Ryan-sat so Paris and I could try out the tube. In a united effort not to get "dumped" Brianna, Paris, and I held stubbornly onto the tube. Eventually it ran out of air and we did, indeed, dump.

Then we tried skiing. I felt pretty hard-core when I got up, but the next day I felt hard-SORE when I woke up. Still, after at least 5 years it was great to water ski again. Paris didn't get up, but not for lack of trying. In a repeated and determined effort not to let go until he was up, he broke the rope. Batting eyes...My big, strapping husband is such a stud. But after busting both the tube and the rope we fear we'll never be invited anywhere again...Menaces to society.

The plan was to grab a bite and go to the Lake County Fair. The boys didn't make it. Exhausted, they fell instantly asleep and dreamed what we can only imagine were happy dreams about birthday cakes and lakes.

These reviewers give the entire day 5 enthusiastic thumbs up.

It is a Happy Birthday...

Well, yesterday was a pretty rotten day...All in preparation for a conversely wonderful birthday so far.

It started last night, a few hours early. Rhea, Aimee, Linda, Katelyn, Alison, Paula and Hannah had a little get together for me. We visited, played Taboo and had gifts/ice-cream cake. Fun. Thanks guys.

I got home and snuggled Atticus. He gave me a huge hug and said, "I love you the most. Even all the way to the moon and back. Even Mars. You're the best." Sometimes mommies really need that. Then he added, "And don't worry...Daddy is going to wake me up in plenty of time to make the waffles."

Sure enough I was awakened to homemade waffles with - drumroll please - homemade blackberry syrup. I didn't know you could make syrup! Everyone knows syrup comes from the Publix Fairy. I was impressed. My little birdies gathered around me, mouths open, and I fed them and myself the most delicious breakfast ever. (There are a couple purple stains on my white bedspread to always remind me of that moment.)

Then Ryan woke up and gave us tons of smiles. Yay!
Happy baby = Happy Mommy = Happy Birthday

Kathi called bright and early. So thoughtful.

Atticus is taking me on a Mommy date this afternoon to get me a gift. Then Paris is taking me to my favorite casual dining spot - Panera Bread - for dinner, after which I get to choose what we do for the rest of the evening. No surprise that means we'll go to Barnes and Noble, melt into the most comfortable armchairs there, sip a smoothie, and rifle through books that aren't about tractors or puppy dogs. Heaven.

My last couple birthdays have been pretty laid back, so this has been super-fun. I must be the only woman my age who still loves my birthday. I'm pretty sure I'll never pad my age.