Kisses!

Remember when I recently posted about sibling love?  Well not only are they playing and having fun together but now they are showing their love for each other....

could that kiss be any sweeter?  It was a two way kiss....true sibling love!  And they are proud of themselves every time they kiss each other!  Ah, I'm so blessed!

30 Days of Thanks ~ Day 6

One of the things that I am truly most thankful in this world for, is the relationship I have, my husband has and my children have with my grandmother.  My grandmother, whom we call Grandmum, is probably the most caring and loving person I know on this earth.  She loves all 8 of her children, her daughters and sons-in-laws, her 18 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren with every fiber of her being.  Grandmum is a roll model of strength, commitment, patience, and love in my life.  She lives her life with such happiness that I pray I will have when I am her age.  She's the matriarch of our large family and there isn't one person that doesn't hold her to the highest respect.  Grandmum's love and commitment to her God and spirituality is another piece of her that I am so thankful for.  She lives this commitment with simple love and teaches us all through example how to incorporate religion into our daily lives.  On top of all she's majorly cool!  For instance, last year on her 88th birthday the present she asked for me to give her was an account on Facebook.  Seriously!?  How many 88 year old's are not only on Facebook, but actively post and respond?  She's awesome!  We all know we need to behave wisely and appropriately since she has eyes everywhere - including Facebook :o)

I can't say how grateful and happy I am to have Grandmum in my life.  I feel such a sense of comfort when I am with her.  I am blessed to have her guidance, support, admiration and love.  She's been an amazing person in my life and I feel so lucky that she has continued to be this same special person in my children's lives.  Grandmum, you are the best and I am so very, very thankful for you.  I love you.

Grandmum, Gracie and my dad (aka Granddad) on Thanksgiving 2010

Grandmum and Gracie Turkey Day 2010

and a couple of not perfectly clear but perfectly beautiful pics of Great-Grandmum from my iPhone...

Grandmum and her newest granddaughter, Anna (my 1st niece)

Great-Grandmum and her three great-grandchildren

Happy Birthday to....Me!

Thirty-One wonderful years ago (yesterday - I had too much fun celebrating that I didn't get a chance to post this!) my dear mother gave birth to the one and only...ME!

For 31 years I have enjoyed celebrating my birthday as big as can be!  I'm an attention lover - so this day is the best of the year for me.  It's all about me!  Ha - I think it's taken me 31 years to be able to say that out loud without feeling guilty :)  I mean, why not... I love this "holiday".  I love everyone calling and wishing me a happy day.  I love getting cards in the mail.  I love presents and flowers and all the special thoughts that people give me and, of course, I love the cake and ice cream that goes along with celebrating!  Ever since I was a little kid, I have always felt like the world has stopped and it's a day all about me (thanks mom and dad!).  I think every person should feel this way on their birthday.

Luckily for me my handsome hubby subscribes to the same birthday philosophy as my parents do and has treated me like a queen every birthday that we've spent together.  He has created amazing birthdays for me every year.  On my first birthday we were together he baked me a purple birthday cake and it has become tradition since.  His creations get better and better with each cake he's made.

Every year I am baked the most yummy and most purple 

birthday cake you can hope for.  Pete is quite the "cake boss" and has the ability to decorate a cake better than anyone I know.  On top of my annual cake that I have to look forward to, he always gets me amazing presents (which he wraps better than anyone I know.  He makes me dinner, cleans the kitchen and lets me do whatever I want.  He allows me to drag my holiday out across the week it falls.  I know what you are thinking - how did I get so lucky and where can you find someone like that - sorry ladies, he's mine!

This year my birthday week is filled with love from family and friends across my life.  I'm so lucky to have each and every one of you and am grateful for all the love and celebration you are providing for me this week!