Valentine's Day 2012

Daniel left me a single rose, hidden somewhere in the house everyday leading up to Valentine's Day. Even better, each rose came with a note. Each note pointed out similarities between the rose and our relationship. Either something deep and meaningful or something simple. For example the yellow rose represented our friendship. The last three roses were from Wallace, Coen and finally Daniel. His is the biggest red rose.

Yeah.

I know.

I couldn't top it. He got a card with cartoon birdies.

Everyone was pumped up about V-day festivities. Can't you tell?

Weeks before Valentine's Day arrived, Coen asked for these Shrek valentines he found at a discount store. 

I have no idea why. He barely knows who Shrek is. They were a dollar and I couldn't resist, especially since he rarely, if ever, tells me something he wants. He enjoyed them, though. For some strange reason he put the hearts on Shrek's ears. 

It's a mystery.

So we got a little carried away with Valentine's Day lunch. It was Daniel. It was his day off and he really enjoyed using the heart shaped cookie cutters! ;)

As a special treat we had the cookies Aunt Julie made Coen! All natural and free of refined sugars! Yay!

It was an absolutely beautiful day, so we spent lots of time in it.

Thank you, God, for our sons. Thank you for YOUR son.

The Ugly

November 9

Fixing up an old house isn't all fun and games. As a matter of fact we have yet to enter that phase. This picture is testimonial to the complete frustration involved in the "renovating" process. (Note there are still no drawers in the kitchen. We misplaced them when everything was getting sprayed and totally forgot to paint them. They get put in weeks after this pic was taken.) We bought this dishwasher when we lived in the barn. I hand washed dishes for almost five years because we didn't have anywhere to put a dishwasher. After I had Coen and the dishes increased and the time decreased, I begged Daniel for one. He said yes right away, of course. He's like that. I begged because I'm dramatic.... Anywho, It's a portable dishwasher. You roll it to the sink and hook it up when you want to wash dishes then roll it away when you are done. We loved it until this day. We were told it was convertible. Meaning portable when we needed it to be, but also permanent when we bought a home. Perfect! Turns out the kit needed to convert the washer costs as much as the machine itself. Enter genius husbandry. It took a few days. I'm not gonna lie, I was cursing in my head when Daniel told me he was going to have to take the whole thing apart to figure out how to DIY, he got it done though. He was murdering me with his eyes when I snapped this photo at the height of his frustration. I hadd to document our progress though! Good job honey! Eventually we will gut the whole kitchen and get all new matching appliances and cabinetry and an island. When that happens, it'll be nice to look back, right?

As a side note this pic was taken the day after our eighth Anniversary. I have no picture documenting our 8th like I do every other year. I don't even remember what we did to celebrate. Seasons of marriage, huh?

Moving Day

This day was harder than I thought it was going to be. It wasn't until I heard my voice echo throughout the living room that it hit me.

 I'm not coming home. I've lived here six years. Six of the eight years we've been married have been spent between these walls.

 We were babies when we moved here. Speaking of babies...

 This wasn't even here when we moved in. We only added it on because we were going to have a baby.

Our baby boy. 

I tape and bedded this room in the middle of the summer, five...six months pregnant. Coen and Wallace both came home here. 

Home.
Home here.
There were balloons.
I rocked them both to sleep in this room. Too many times to count.

Now we're moving. I don't remember why I thought I could do this. Why are we leaving our barn??

I had been crying before we took this picture. We had to balance the camera on empty boxes and a trash can. I love this man. I'll go anywhere, and leave any "home" to be with this man. With him, I AM home. We made this barn a home, and I'll miss it. It's hard to leave a place filled with so many good memories, and it's hard to make good memories without someone you love.

Stitches

August 21

How could I forget about Coen's stitches!? Early Sunday morning Daniel was rough housing with Coen on our bed. I was asleep on the couch after tending to a fussy baby when I heard a sudden "OH! OW! OOh Gosh!! Ohhhhh." and Coen crying the undeniable "I've been injured" cry. I flew off of the couch and into our bedroom to find Daniel on the floor holding his face and Coen in the middle of our bed with blood streaming down his face.
I grab Coen and glance at Daniel, now missing one of his front teeth.
Back to Coen to find the source of the bleeding....there it is, a gash on his forehead.
On to the kitchen to get some ice or a towel?
Nope, not working. Too much wriggling, screaming and blood.
"Get in the car! Grab Wallace and get in the car!! Come on!"
Calm down, Amy. You have two boys. You're going to see much worse than this. Keep it together. Am I wearing shoes? Where is Daniel? Is Daniel wearing pants?

Yeah, I was scared. We made it to the hospital in Fort Worth where Coen received three stitches. No, it couldn't have been butterflied, it was a funny shaped gash.

  He survived.

 Daniel got some sleep and a temporary cap.

I lost one sleep shirt and a little bit of my nerve.

Mommies shouldn't have to hold their children down while they get stitches. 

Of course I woulda hit the foo steppin' in ta hold my kid down while they got stitches.

Catch twenty two I guess.

Guy Talk

There are just some conversations you don't interrupt.

Speed Boat

Daniel's birthday was April 10th. I got him a speed boat to take to the pond with Coen. They love going down there together and feeding the catfish.

And it wouldn't be complete without Coen falling head first into the water.

 It was a long walk back to the house...

Big Helper

The other day Daniel was working on a few things around the house. Things I don't really feel like bending over to do. :)
He was fixing our phone chord and Coen was watching. Suddenly he (Coen) jumped up and ran to get into his toys and dug out his "tools". Carried them right over to Daniel and whipped out his hammer to help!! I thought it was so cute!

Here he is later, helping with another project. This time they used their drills.

33!

Happy Birthday to my sweet and wonderful husband, Daniel! I am so glad you were BORN!

65

He passed, he passed!! Last week Daniel passed his series 65 exam. Woohoo!!! No more studying, no more late nights at the office, no more stress! He is officially licensed by the state as a Financial Advisor!! Whew! Congratulations Daniel! Great work! Now, on to school to finish up and get that masters. Sigh.

So Long Wisdom

Daniel is having his wisdom teeth removed Friday morning. FINALLY!! They've grown in impacted and I have been telling him to have them removed for years. I guess it took the pain kicking in to get him movin' on it. Please keep us in your prayers. First, for Daniel, that he would have limited pain and side effects along with a quick recovery. And secondly for me, because after all, I'm going to be home with an "ill" man. That I might have patience an empathetic spirit. ;)

32

Daniel turned thirty two on April 10th! Thirty two?!?!? I'm married to an old man!! I remember when my dad turned thirty. Some of his friends came over and brought a paper sack filled with fake pills, a magnafying glass and other such things. I thought it meant that he was fixin to die.Wow. Now it's our turn.

I got him his very own iPod shuffle! (so he would quit hogging the one we share) :)
Later that evening we were dropping Coen off at my parents house so we could go out to eat. We were not a half a mile down the road and our car died. Maybe it's an omen. Haha! Kidding Dan! Happy Belated Blog Birthday Wishes!!

X is for X-ray

Isn't it obvious that X would be for X-ray? Whew, I'm almost done!

Daniel says that every Halloween, all of the paranoid folk in Mineral Wells (including him and his fam ;)) would take their newly acquired sacks of Halloween candy to the hospital and have it x-ray'ed for things like razor blades and drug needles and such. He says they would leave the hospital with an x-ray picture of their goodies as a souvenir. I had never heard of this until I met him. And excuse me? Why can the hospital afford dozens of pointless pictures of candy and give them away free, but when I break my leg an x-ray is running me about $500 bucks? Did any of yall do this?

Q is for Quilt

A few years ago my mom, sisters and I went on a girls weekend trip to Fredericksburg Texas. It was so much fun and I can't wait to do it again. ::hint hint:: My dad gave us all spending money ( I know, he's awesome) and I bought this beautiful quilt! It's on our bed right now, until I can get duvet. A while back Dan and I were bouncing Coen on the bed and I took some cute pics. Enjoy!







Gosh, now that I look at them....he looks so young!

Last Buck Hunt

This weekend Daniel went hunting with Clayton and Dad for the last buck hunt of the season. I was pretty excited for him. Not necessarily excited that we was leaving for two days, but that he would get to use his new gun and have some guy time. He was sent with strict instructions, by yours truly, to NOT shoot a deer. He had already shot his first buck, a six point, earlier in the season, and after processing his deer last year I wasn't really up for processing another one. Being elbow deep in that much raw meat and blood kinda does something to you. ya know! Plus our freezer couldn't hold anything else. Of course I just pulled the last lb. of venison hamburger from my fridge. OOPS! Maybe he will shoot a doe when he goes next time.
So he packed up for a blue lodge and I packed Coen and I up for my mom's. The weather wasn't really in their favor, Daniel saw a buck, but didn't get a shot in. I sent a camera along because we never have pictures of guy events. Pretty good idea I thought.



Coen hung out with the ladies. We sat around all weekend Playing Huggermugger and drinking Amarula with vanilla ice cream. (Us not Coen) I'm addicted.( Not really. Addiction is a serious matter.) Anywho. We also watched Mama Mia. Boo. Coen wore his red Cabelas jammies he got from mom and dad for Christmas. They have a little flap over the bootie! So cute!!

5

November 8th was our fifth wedding anniversary! I can't believe that we have been married for five years! Good grief, time flies. We left Coen with my mom for a few hours and drove into Fort Worth to have diner. It was kinda weird to be alone again! :) On our way home we talked about life and our time together. We both agree that, since having a child, time seems a lot more....tangible. Before Coen, I measured time by how much I changed. Not the greatest ruler, I know. In my mind I always look the same and feel the same. Now that I can watch something else grow and change I realize how quickly time goes by. I also used to measure my "success" by things that I accomplished. Of course, that was never much. Each year that passed was another year I hadn't been to Europe, re-decorated the living room or lost 10 pounds. Now, every day that goes by is another day I survived, another day I was able to take care of my child. And when I make it to the salon to get my hair cut without finding spit up on my clothes, I feel like I have accomplished something. It's so much more rewarding. :) Anyway, It's been a wonderful five years. The best of my life. I have to give most of the credit to my husband, without whom none of this would have been worth it. Love you babe.