Jared's Gift

Jared chose to hold off on his birthday gifts until my birthday this year. He felt like gifts so quickly after Christmas was "greedy". So he waited. He has been asking to have his "bike fixed". Mike and I discussed the fact that he is now 6'2" and that his bike is woefully small for him. We didn't want to go out and pick one out without asking him...but he agreed that he'd like having an adult bike.

Off we went....

Unicycle is not quite right

I thought THIS one had possibilities

Stacia has discovered there is more to life than Zander's blue hand me down bike....oh oh.

This is the one we bought. He's enjoyed several rides....prompting me to think that at least one of my cardio workouts per week could be a bike ride....I miss them.


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

If You Are On Facebook....

You saw the cryptic message that I nearly wet my pants when I walked into a dark house Friday night and a zillion kids jumped out at me. (Yes, Mel, all my own children. ::snort::)

Mike and I went out to eat. He chose to stay at Outback even though the wait would be long. That was a bit out of character. We had a nice dinner. I had enough points to eat that I enjoyed a very nice dinner. We even shared a dessert - something we never do.

As we got up to come home Mike asked, "Do you need to go to the bathroom before we leave?" He NEVER asks me that. I'm pretty capable of remembering these details on my own. Later, he confessed that he wanted to call home when I went to the bathroom. I didn't go.

On the way home I wanted to talk to Mike about some theology issues. As he pulled down our alley he accidently hit the horn. He pulled in to the driveway and started to get out of the car. I said, "Stop, don't you dare get out of the car. I'm spilling my guts here and you are just going to get OUT?" We sat and talked in the driveway 5 - 10 minutes until his cell phone rang. I asked if he was duty chaplain. He is....but I heard JOSIAH'S voice on the cell phone. That was a bit odd.

Well.....he told Josiah we were about home. We walked in and SURPRISE.....poor kidlets. They'd decorated and been waiting on the trampoline all night. They heard us come in and then waited and waited in the dark.

I HAD to eat MORE DESSERT.....oh I tell you I was stuffed.

We visited...we played mafia....we had 1/2 of my ice cream cake..... I felt very loved.

Josiah made these posters up, each one is covered with special notes from different kids...

waiting and waiting







Mafia

Mafia

This little one CANNOT kill mom....






Lots of smoke

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Friday Sights

Jamin's laminated license came in the mail. We laughed that it expires on 20 Feb. He'll have to turn it in to get a "non-provisional" license as he'll be 18......

"Mom, I used your BeaUtiful lip stuff!"

I picked up produce at Deja's house. I'm still debating how best to make produce work for us now that we aren't running a co-op. I was getting two shares and then taking any extra fruit that we needed from the extra basket.....now I'm buying two shares but I'm running out of fruit and yet I know that I don't need MORE veggies. What to do. It's been a month so I need to figure this out. LOL In Feb I may try alternating co-ops...one week with THIS one and one with the one where you pick exactly what you need.....or I may try to simply ADD the other one to this weekly one...but I'm trying to cut our budget too. ::snort::

Sherri, a local friend, took me out to lunch in anticipation of my birthday - which was Saturday.

Mike took the kids out birthday shopping for both Jared (who delayed his gifts) and me.

Mike told me he wanted to take me out for dinner. I hesitated as the older boys try to have Friday nights off and I enjoy having family night on Fridays....but Mike and I hadn't been out alone in over a month....Josiah hadn't mentioned coming over.... We went....and I'll write another post to share the rest of the evening.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Oh my WORD!

These kids have gotten far to internet savy. I do believe I'm too predictable and it's time to change my password. At least they didn't mess with my template. ::snort::

Thanks, all. I have photos of a surprise from last night....and yes, Dad, I wore the silly hat. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Surprise!

This blog has been hijacked!

As some of you might know, January 24 is a special day of the year for us in the G household. It's a time when we celebrate and thank God for someone who's known to us as mom and to others as De'Etta.

What do you say about someone who fills her days with serving others? This woman of God extends the hand of love everywhere she goes, on the good days, on the bad days, and the normal, nothing-new days.

We want to say thank you for being the mom that you are!

Happy birthday!

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Rumors and Such

Mike called this afternoon to tell me that there is a rumor going around that I have a birthday coming up "soon". Guess that one is true. ::snort:: He's making one of his famous ice cream cakes for me. The younger ones were glad to hear that Dad is going to take them shopping tomorrow.

I had checked out this giant, paper back book from the library. Today my very own hardcover copy arrived courtesy of Paper Back Swap (link in sidebar).

Our 25th Wedding Anniversary is coming up. I was excited today at a PAC meeting to see that it falls on a 3 day weekend. We aren't sure what we'll do. For our 20th we rented a cabin out in the wilds of Alaska....but the girls are no longer living with us and so I don't know that we'll go away alone.....we shall see. The idea of actually having Mike HOME and OFF DUTY for an anniversary is exciting to contemplate. I think it happens about once every five years. ::snort::

One of "my ladies" - as in PWOC ladies - is taking me to lunch tomorrow to celebrate my birthday.

I got to talk to Mom and Dad tonight.

Krista called to let me know that Clif bars and Luna bars have been added to the peanut butter recall list...evidently she is fielding LOTS of calls on this whole thing at work.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

*Who Needs Television?

Josiah's jump (fast forward to 2:34 on the bar). It was a 6,000 feet free fall and then the chute opens at 4,000 feet up.

*Based on Josiah's comments, I guess jumping from a plane 10,000 feet above ground level provides a good answer when someone says, "You don't have a TV? What do you do with your time?" ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.