Happy Anniversary

7 years ago today, I married my best friend.  We've been through so much together and I couldn't ask for a better partner in life.  He's my rock.  When I'm sad, he lifts me up.  When I am happy, he celebrates with me.  When life throws us a curve ball--as it often does, we tackle it together.  We are a team.  I am so grateful that we found each other so many years ago (13 in fact) and while it took him a while to realize we should be together...I think having a strong friendship before we dated helped solidify our bond. 
Happy Anniversary Chris!  I love you!

Book Review: Watch Over Me by Tara Sivec

Amazon's Description:
Addison Snow is your typical teenager. She has a family that loves her, friends that make her laugh, and she's wrapped up in the excitement of graduating high school and going off to college to pursue her dream of becoming an author. When her mother, who also happens to be Addison's best friend, dies unexpectedly, her world comes to a crashing halt.

Death changes everyone...

To make the pain go away, Addison and her father travel down separate, dark paths. She chooses to end her grief forever, while he drowns his sorrows in the bottom of a bottle. How do you learn to live again when the most important person in your life is gone?

Addison struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. Instead of getting back to being the carefree teenager she once was, she's stuck handling all of the responsibilities that should have been her father's. She has no time to grieve, no time for emotions, and no time for happiness...until Zander Reinhardt walks in. All it takes is one little handwritten note on a napkin to kick-start her back to life and help her realize that maybe there's more to that life than pain.

But can it really be that simple? Can she really trust this man who makes her feel alive again for the first time in a year?


Honestly, I loved this book.  It was one of the best books I've read in a long time.  I loved the characters and the story line.  It explored the harsh reality of grief, depression, and addiction.  You really feel what the characters are going through. 

I could relate somewhat to Addison's grief and the way she had to deal with her father's addiction.  I've dealt with similar and I could see how she felt and acted the way she did...blocking herself off from the world and from additional pain.  I loved the notes and how her love story with Zander started.  I also really liked her friendship with Meg. 

Overall, I really loved this book.  It dealt with important issues, while also having a sweet storyline.  

Pumpkin Patch-- trip 1

I love going to pumpkin patches with the kids.  It is so much fun.  Our first one this year was Council Farms, located in Queenstown, MD.  It has been a tradition that we buy our pumpkins there since Mia was 1 month old.  Here are some pictures from this year:

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday to my Dad!!!  I'm so happy that he is here to celebrate another year.  Given his recent diagnosis, I really cherish the time I have with him.  Please pray for him today as today is his CT scan to see how much the 3 tumors in his lungs have grown.  I'm hoping to have many more birthdays to celebrate with him.

Happy 80th to my Uncle Basil

Last weekend, we drove 2 hours to my home town for a surprise 80th birthday party for my Uncle Basil.  He has been like a 2nd father to me.  I practically lived at their house for years growing up as they babysat me all through Elementary School.  I still cannot believe he just turned 80.  Here's hoping for many more years of good health and happiness (note--he was just diagnosed with prostate cancer so please pray that the radiation that he will start next week works!!).

He was so surprised! 

Just arriving with my cousin (his daughter) EJ. 

My mom and aunt Pat watching the magician

My aunt Lily holding Pax

Overall, it was a great party.  I can't put into words how happy I was to spend time with my family.  I don't realize how much I miss them until I see them all again.  I wish I could get back more often, but with the kid's activities and everything going on...it's hard. 

Mia's 5th Birthday party recap

Mia celebrated her 5th birthday party this year at Monkey Kate and Dave's bounce house.  I did a horrible job of taking pictures as usual.  Her theme was rainbows and monkeys (she wanted a rainbow party, but since it was at MONKEY kate and dave's, she decided to throw the monkey thing in).  She had a great time playing with her friends.  Here are some highlights:

A few of her friends from preschool

Mia's best friend, Leo

Hula Hooping with Monkey Kate and Dave

Pax playing hide and seek

Pizza time

And...cake

Ruin, book review.

Amazon's description:
I'm not your typical girl. I've been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that the shroud of depression has become my only comfort. Ignorant, I was content in the darkness… until Wes Michels offered to be my light. I didn't know that time wasn't my ally, that every second that ticked pass was one closer to the end of something that was starting to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me and promised me what he was able to offer, each moment as it came, but it would never be enough. Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying. And when you think it's the end, the final curtain, sometimes that’s only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn't… I wouldn't ever be the same. And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own

I read this book in one day.  It was a great story.  It is definitely a teenage/early 20's love story, but sometimes, I love those.  This was a really good one. 

I don't want to give too much away, but Wes was sick and when they met, he was trying to stay healthy without anyone knowing.  He was super popular and she was just a freshman.  I really enjoyed their love story. It was well written and the characters were definitely likeable. I loved the ending...and really loved everything about it.

This is definitely a book I would recommend.