Vrooom VRooom VROOOMM

Something is in the air. Can you feel it or is it just our home? This year T and I started talking about our "Couple's Bucket List". Now we haven't written it out just yet but two things come to mind that we said we will do. WILL... not, "Oh maybe one day when the kids grow up".

1. Travel more. We are determined to travel more around the world. With three college tuitions this fall we're not quite sure how that will happen, but it's on the list.

2. Go to Sturgis. Okay... I said go to Sturgis, he said ride together in Colorado. All the same, not having a bike kind of made either option impossible. And this put my husband into motion.

Give my man an idea and he will find a solution. Craigslist baby! Shop, shop, shop. We went to motorcycle shops to see what we really liked, the CC's, even the seats. After a few weeks of narrowing down the field, we headed out to buy one.

This fine baby only needs a few minor alterations for us to hit the road. A bigger seat for me; my bootie needs a-bit-more-comfort.  Annnnd wouldn't ya know it, today, of all things, I found out they come HEATED!! AHHHH. We also need to buy some stylin' helmets and a motorcycle license.. for him NOT me. I informed him I was only ever gonna be a passenger and he said,"Ohhh that's all I'll let you be." Oh he knows me well.

The Next Great Baker

Okay so maybe that's an exaggeration but you can't say I don't try.

I've been soooo good on my GF plan, day 21 in fact, and was looking forward to some GF chocolate cake. I followed the instructions explicitly, baked it in 2 pans, let it cool...well, sorta let it cool, and as I was about to stack these delectable layers, envisioning Buddy on Cake Boss doing it so swiftly, they crumbled before my eyes into this heap. It looked more like Mt. Herman out my front window than a two layered round cake.  Did I let that stop me? Ohhh No! I whipped up some homemade chocolate butter cream frosting, poured in on Mt. Herman, and served it with milk.

I'm not sure if it was the cake, me, the milk, or being so disciplined, but my belly ached afterwards. I'm gonna try one more small piece of Mt. Herman today and if it still aches, I suspect it's the sugar.

If you need someone to make you a fantastic birthday cake anytime soon, you may want to ask someone else... unless you're looking for "Free-Form Delights". Then by all means, I'm your gal!

Smile!

There are certain Rites of Passage each of my children go through...Momma crying over the first lost tooth, Momma taking pictures of the first hair cut, Momma taking you shopping for your first pair of real grown up shoes, Momma watching you learn to ride a bike, ski, skate, cook, you get the picture. Today, well, today was another Rite of Passage in our home. Our last child is ready to have perfectly straight teeth. I know, I KNOW, someone please hand me the Kleenex box. Yes, this is our fourth time going through this and Yes, you can count all the dollars and cents up for sure. No, no.. keep counting. I'm sure you're not there yet and do pass more Kleenex while your at it.

This precious child is ready and quite excited to enter a new phase of life... braces.

Oh how cute can she be! Lina already has a knock 'em dead smile, I can only imagine what 2 years of growing up and straightening out will do. Watch out world, some more pearly whites are about to be flashed. 

And after doing her best to close her mouth without looking like a cow chewing her cud, it was off to celebrate this new era! What more could my chocolate lovin' girl want then a McCy D's chocolate shake.. without the cherry, thank you kindly.

Beach, Book, and Squishing my Toes

Vacation is a synonym for this. I am absolutely sure if you open the dictionary, this is what you would see right after the word VACATION. No words needed, just this picture. Every Christmas season is wonderful in its own right. Family, food, fellowship. But.. there is also busyness, chaos, and lack of sleep. And every January, ok, sooo, only since I visited Maui back some 10 years ago with my husband and sat, read, people watched, and didn't-have-to-speak unless I chose to...

Where was I? Oh yeah, every January, I flop on the bed and say,"I need a vacation." My husband looks at me good and hard thinking,"Isn't that what we just had?" Noooo.. I mean a REAL vacation according to the dictionary. (refer to the picture above in case you missed the OFFICIAL definition.) And so my search has begun. Mexico, Florida, Hawaii.

I saw swimsuits out in the stores yesterday. I let out a little scream. "Oh! I can go find some beach now, even JC Penney's thinks it's time!" Again, my husband grabbed my hand and kept walking. Sweet man. He'll be thrilled when we're sitting on a beach, I am half dressed and not thinking about grabbing a thick blanket, wool socks, and flannel jammies to cover up all the exposed skin.

Margarita anyone?