Our Aluminum Anniversary

When I met my now beau of 10 years, I was a giddy college Freshman about to party at her very first kegger.  I know, just bear with me.  All dolled up with my new found cute roomies, we walked up a block to the party house and passed a couple of freshman guys sitting on the front steps of the neighboring house.  We introduced ourselves, with more than annoying party girl enthusiasm and walked away, ready to meet the next round of strapping college boys.  One of those porch dwellers was "Tim, from Timothy High school."  I had no idea that this tall guy wearing a purple plaid shirt and somewhat tapered jeans would be my future husband and father of my children. 

"Tim from Timothy" and I became friends.  We'd hug every time we greeted each other on campus and talked all about our dating lives those first few months of our first year.  I kinda knew this Tim fella was interested in a bit more than the occasional hug, but I wasn't havin' it.  Too many boys, too little time. 

Come January, the 16th to be exact, Tim from Timothy asked me out.  On a date.  Just the two of us.  I was freaked, but said yes.  Immediately I went to my friend Melissa's dorm room and told her to make me as unattractive as she could.  Then Tim from Timothy surely wouldn't want to take this friendship thing any further.  I wore an enormously large, purple, people eater sweater and did a horrid feathering of my hair and I was off to Ruby Tuesday and Titanic with my date. 

I came back to my dorm following the movie and my girly friends were waiting to hear all the awkward details.  I had a smooth smile on my face and a calmness in my voice as I explained to them that "It must have gone well because I'm gonnna marry this guy."  They stood, mouths agape, but I was sure.  No more college guys for me.  This Tim from Timothy won me over at our 2 hour dinner and there was no looking back.  We dated all 3.5 years and got married on July 28, 2001.  No break ups, no hesitations, no blow out arguments, no second guessing....it was like my room mate Maddie always said, "You're like salt and pepper.  You guys just go together." 

Yes we do.  After 14 years of togetherness and 10 years of weddedness, there's no one I'd rather be with.  Share my life with.  Raise my kids with.  Go to sleep with.  Watch the news with.  Argue with.  Take hikes with.  Plan meals with.  Wash the car with.  Pray with.  Budget with.  Giggle with.  Cry and pout with.  Plan the future with.  All that good stuff and the bad too.  He's the best "salt" I could ever ask for, because we all know that I'm the pepper in this relationship. 

Happy Anniversary studly.  Thanks for being my sunshine, my rock, my resting place, my confidant, my calm waters, my glass half full, my encourager, my biggest fan and my bestest friend all these years.  Can't wait to see what the next 10 have in store. 

Enjoy the walk down salt and pepper lane below. 

Flashback to the Opening of the Vogel Wine

I left out some notably cute shots from my last post, so here they are.  We celebrated Timmy's bday at our homies, the Syers house.  They made a high class wok meal and a delectable pie for the occasion and to top it all off, we decided to pop open our "Vogelzang" wine, which has stood proud on our island for the past 2.5 years.  It's a discussion piece with all new guests - came from Tim's dad's cousin's vineyard and is a real treat in the wine world.  We were waiting for the ideal occasion to partake and decided that celebrating Tim's bday and Squirt's adoption day with dear friends was the time to do it.  It was divine, as was our evening.  Check out these cutie patooties.  Darling is an understatement huh? 

My Very Favorite Day

Without July 14, I wouldn't have the charmed life I've been blessed with. I wouldn't have the little angels sound asleep upstairs or the handsome hubby hittin' home runs at his softball game right now. I love July 14 because my bestest friend was born that day. And it turns out he was chosen for me. Only me. How lucky can a girl get? Happy Birthday love.

Our Day in Court

Our little bundle is officially a Mile High Vogel.  In every one's eyes, other than the state, she already was.  But we needed this little visit to the Gerogetown courthouse to make it official.  And so we went and celebrated our sissy's adoption day with cheers and enthusiasm.  Dude kinda understands what it all means and was a great sport.  Here's a breakdown of our 10 minutes in court.

Judge enters his chambers.  We stand (we being Tim, me, Dude, Squirt, our case worker and the clerk).  The judge kind of acknowledges us and asks us to be seated.  Squirt is already squealing and making dinosaur like noises as loud as babily possible and Dude is loudly telling her (into the microphone) to be quiet for da judge in da black robe.  Does the judge crack a smile?  Nope.  Talks over them and informs us that he will ask me a series of questions and will then ask Tim if he agrees with my answers.  Note, this is about the funnest case a judge can receive.  No criminals, no bail, no drug addicts or custody battles...this is pure happy.  Unfortunately, this doormat didn't see it that way.  What does a judge (this judge) ask at an adoption day hearing?  Things like this....

"Tell me about your marriage."  He was satisfied when I told him we're best friends.  Even smiled a bit.

"Where do you reside?" (I answered with the wrong city subsequently...I have no idea why or what I was thinking).  I quickly corrected myself. 

"I presume this is your son.  Does he like his sister?"  If I said no, he can't stand her and pinches her when we're not looking, would he have nixed the whole thing? 

"Tell me about your residence.  Do the children have their own rooms?"  As if that's of any importance.

"Are you aware that by agreeing to this hearing that your daughter will become as if she was a biological child according to the law?"  I did  not say anything sarcastic, you'd be proud.  I just smiled and said, "of course sir."  

"If your marriage terminates, are you aware that she will be treated like a biological child would in a custody hearing?"  Again, I bit my tongue.  Hard.  Very very hard.  By this time, Dude is playing under the table and tickling our legs.  Squirt has not stopped squealing and is eating everything she can get her hands on.  The clerk is laughing, but not Mr. Judge.  Very serious.

"Tell me about your job and our husband's job."  I held back the "stripper" response that I was so tempted to give him.  All kinds of fun things ran through my head the entire time.  Not that I don't take this all very seriously, but I'm about done proving myself as a parent to the authorities.  Enough is enough is enough is enough.

Squirt is our baby.  And we are the best darn family on this earth for her.  God knew that when we put us all together.  And we couldn't be more thrilled to be officially done having other people involved, inspecting, questioning, charging, visiting etc. etc.

Happy Adoption Day pretty girl.  We'll celebrate this day for years to come.  Not as a legal schmegal day in court, but rather a day to celebrate the beautiful story that is ours.     

 Georgetown is a quaint, mountain town, so we took a short stroll and picked up a Christmas ornament as a memento of the day.

 No significance.  Just don't see my name very often.

 We had a picnic by Georgetown lake before heading home with two very sleepy babes.

My 3 favorite people.

A Haily Picnic

Who would have thought that quarter sized hail dumping down for 30 minutes and a picnic with 5 children would go together so well. On Wed night, they did. We headed to the Botanic Gardens, one of our favorite family spots, for a picnic with the Sheas. Maria is on her way to the airport today (Friday) for a month, so we had to get some QT in before their departure. We each made salads and appetizers and packed up our quaint little baskets for a night of calm fun with children frolicking through the flowers and the adults sipping wine and chatting about life.


That was the case for oh, 10 minutes. Then the torrential rain began. We had set up under a tent left over from a wedding and used the rented tables too, so fortunately we were ready for the weather. We called the kids under the tent to wait out the rain. It typically lasts 10 minutes around here, so no bigee. Weeeellllll, 10 minutes later the hail started. The kids got nervous, so we started cheering and turning the situation into a super fun adventure. We couldn't speak to each other as it was crazy loud and the tent started flooding, but the kids were happy and laughing, so we went with it. Even Squirt didn't mind the loud, wet chaos. 35 minutes later it kinda stopped. So we booked it before it came back. And it did. But we had a super fun night and will remember our haily picnic with fond memories for sure.

 And a special "thanks" to Maria for teaching my son this little trick. 

 Squirt wants everything she can get her little hands on in her mouth.  That's drool on her dress...not brewski.

 4 weeks without my neighborhood watchdog, wine drinking partner and playmate. 

 This is when the hail began.  The kids resembled wet dogs already at that point.

 We've had 2 bad hail storms this past week.  Leaves down everywhere.

 Yes, my husband is "skipping" hail into the pond. 

 Oh Dude.  We have so much to teach you about being a gentleman.  Look at poor Riley, left in the dust/rain.  Don't worry, Dude stayed nice and dry.

 Post storm play time before we departed for the night.

 Where Dude goes, Riley goes and vice verse, so they share in our family shots. 

Oh how I love this little family of mine. 

Lemonade (and Mimosas) for Sale

Our lemonade stand last weekend was a rousing success for all. We charged a whopping .25cents, resulting in some substantial .50 cent tips. The kids could care less about the moolah. They were all about service. Dude personally manhandled every cookie sold and took bites out of a few too.  Our college bud, Dan, was in town and was privileged enough to experience this special event. 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to quench their thirst and satisfy their sweet tooth!