Seven Years Ago Today...

we were married. I was 22 and dh was 23. Looking at this picture makes me laugh because I didn't realize how young we looked then until now...now that dh is 30, and I am turning 30 this month. Whoa.

This evening, we went out to eat at a local Japanese restaurant while Daniel spent some quality time with the grandparents. After we picked up Daniel, we stopped by the shop of the baker who made our wedding and groom's cakes and bought a little slice of Sacher cake that we split once Daniel went to bed.

Although we didn't do anything too elaborate to celebrate our anniversary today, we still had a beautiful day just spending time together and relaxing.

(I'm surprised I didn't hear from my sister today, though. I was just certain that she would be calling to wish us a happy anniversary. Hum? Hi, Priss, if you are reading this! LOL!)

Today's Theme Must be Flowers

It is very rare for me to post twice in one day, but seeing as it is Friday the 13th, maybe it is rather fitting and timely. Anyhow, I took the picture of my hydrangea bush and the close-up of the lily this morning at my house while dh was exercising. When he came home from exercising, he surprised me with the flowers that you see in the vase. He found them off a country road growing in a ditch and stopped there along his way home to pick some for me. Sweet, huh?

Smoke from the Wildfires Yet Again Today

Late last week during the evening and nighttime, the area in which we live was shrouded in a thick cloud of smoke from the wildfires in Hyde County. Today, it seems that we are once again shrouded in a thick layer of smoke on all sides. So, what does that mean for this family? Cabin fever will now be added to the list of Daniel's ailments. :) Here are some pictures of our neighborhood from our front and back yards.

The Latest Editions to the Household

A mama robin decided to take up residence on our back porch and begin her robin family. They look like such a happy family, don't they?

The Annual AP History Cookout

Today, my husband and I hosted a cookout for his AP US History students. The cookout has become an annual event, and this is our third year of hosting students at our house for a celebratory end-of-the-year feast. We had a nice turnout of both students and parents, and everyone had a chance to fill their tummies to full capacity. The weather held out for us, although the humidity was a killer! Daniel worked so hard to entertain everyone this evening that shortly after the last guest leaving, he fell asleep and seems to be out for the night. I'm glad we gave him the night off earlier this week in order to gear up for this evening's festivities.

Finally There is Rest for the Weary

Being a toddler is hard work. Just think about all that is involved in a typical toddler's day. First, there is waking up the parents and pushing them along to get ready in the morning. Then, there is daycare where they have to do mandatory arts and crafts as well as humoring the daycare providers by pretending to have the time of their lives playing with other toddlers as well as with the toys and playground equipment provided. Then, as if that is not enough, it is time to go home to entertain the parents. Well, my husband and I decided that we would give Daniel the night off, and he was finally able to just kick back on the couch wilth a couple of crispy saltines and catch up on a little Barney.

Toddler Meets Frog

Daniel loves the outdoors. Indoor life is much too boring for him. Who could blame him when there is so much to explore in the outdoors...like this frog. He was captivated by Mr. Frog. I think that he was probably wondering why this 'dog' or 'cat' was so small and strange-looking (everything to Daniel right now is either a dog or cat, the two kinds of animals with which he is most familiar). If he thinks that frogs are cool, just wait until he sees cows.