10 Years!

Happy Anniversary Babe! I love You!

Looking forward to our day/night together, can't wait to see what you have planned for us. I love our life together. Our life together has been like an awesome roller coaster, you know one of those ones that takes your breath away. I am enjoying every minute of it. I love our ride we are taking together. I thank God everyday that you moved in across the street from me. Couldn't imagine my life any other way and wouldn't want it any other way. I love growing with you and looking so forward to growing old and grey with you. You are the BEST husband and father. I love you so very much. Thank you for the life you have given me and thank you for our two wonderful children. You have given me more than I could have ever wished for. I cherish everyday that we have together. Here's to many, many more years together..........Love you my chicken!

Disclaimer: I know I probably have many errors in grammar and punctuation but you cannot edit this for me this time as it is to you. : ) Love you!

Joey.....

Happy Birthday!

We love you. Hope you are enjoying your birthday weekend. Looking forward to another great day with you and the kids. You are not just another year older but one more year full of wonderful. Can't wait for the next year of much happiness and many more adventures. You mean the world to me and the kids. Loving our life together and growing old with you.

Love you Babe,

Jamie

Jacob and Jenna, too

XOXOXO

It's Like Riding a Bike

It was approximately 12 years ago the last time I put on a pair of ice skates. It has been since we moved away from So. Cal. Joe and I used to go a lot, he played ice hockey for a few years. Since he knew how to skate when we started dating he took me. We loved going and just really never took the time to go since we moved. When we lived in Ashburn we had a rink right down the road from where we lived but still never made the time to go. An opportunity came upon us this past Tuesday. This year our Light the Night thank you party took place in Reston. It was at McCormick and Schmick's, we ate dinner, then there was a small awards ceremony. After all was said and done the skating rink at The Town Center was all ours, closed to the public just for The Light the Night party guests.

We weren't sure at first if we were going to venture onto the ice. But we did. It was so much fun. I was a little nervous at first. It had been so long since we'd been. When I got my skates on and got on the ice it was like no time had passed at all. Not one year or twelve years. I didn't even fall once. It felt great being out there. It was just Joe and I, the kids were at home with Nana. It was like we were teenagers again, only in older bodies. My body was definitely feeling the workout it was getting. We had such a fun time, we have decided that we definitely need to go back and take the kids with us. We checked on the skates sizes and they go as small as seven, they are so tiny just perfect for Jenna.

Hope everyone else is having a great week. We've been quite busy, I have so many more pictures to share and I will soon. What about this weather? I am really ready for Spring now.

-----------Me on the rink-------------Group pic at dinner-Joe, Me, Debbie, Jackie, Mia, Cheyl and Nancy------

The Past Week!

Where have we been. Lots has been going on. I guess I should start with last Thursday morning our anniversary. While taking the kids to school that morning a nice police officer thought she would start my morning out right by giving me a ticket. I kid you not and I wasn't even two miles from the house. I was in the neighborhood right next to ours almost to Greenwood and that's where she pulled me over. Get this my ticket was for FAILURE TO STOP. Are you kidding me? I know all of those stop signs as I drive that way at least once a day three days out of the week. I totally stopped but she said otherwise. I was so bummed but really tried not to get too down about it. Beside Joe was not going to let me get upset about it. He said it's our anniversary and that's the last thing you need to get upset over, so I didn't. It stills bothers me now though. My fine is only $30.00 but the fees are $61.00, $91.00 total, it sucks. I hate that I have to pay the county $91.00 when I know that I stopped but I really don't think it's worth fighting over it's her word against mine.

The rest of the day Thursday turned out to be a good day. We didn't get to do exactly what we had planned but it still worked out and we were together and that's all that matters. The first chance we get though Joe has promised me that we will get our dinner at The Melting Pot. I can't wait.

Saturday morning Joe went to South Riding and went golfing with a couple of friends from work. He's never really been a golfer, something new that he wants to give a try. With a little practice I think he will be really good at it and it'll be something that he enjoys.

The kids and I just hung out at the house and then in the afternoon we packed up for our trip into Reston for our walk. The kids were really excited because they got to see their friends Gavin and Mia who we don't get to see enough. The weather was great we couldn't have asked for better weather. No jackets were required this year just long sleeves. And they seemed like a little too much at one point during our walk. It went rather fast this year. We finished faster than any other year or at least it seemed that way. Nancy had shirts made again this year for our team, and this year Jenna even had one. It was really too cute, not exactly the same but we got what would fit on her small shirt. I think we probably finished third (for fundraising) in the friends and family team category. Here's some pictures from our evening on Saturday........

With the Capitals Mascot---------------With The Chick Fil A little cow

My little cutie!-----------------Gavin- our inspiration

Playing games before our walk-------------------Mommy and Jenna, she's flying high

Getting started Daddy, Jacob and Jenna--------Jacob hanging out we're almost done

Jacob hanging out with Mia, he couldn't get enough of her--------------------Mommy and Jacob!

Jacob and Jenna enjoying one of Mommy's cookies.

Here we are at Tuesday already. Is it just me or does it seem like time is really flying by these last couple of weeks? Is Halloween just 24 days away? Before we know it Christmas will be here.

Happy Anniversary Babe!

Here we are nine years later. I Love you more today than the day I married you. You are truly an amazing man. I am so lucky to have you. I love the life you have given me. I Love you more than I know how to say. I cherish everyday that we have together and look forward to the next. We have so much to be thankful for and I am so thankful that you came into my life when you did. You are not only a wonderful husband but an amazing Daddy. Thank you for the making the last fifteen years of my life such wonderful ones. I am looking forward to the many adventures that our future holds. I cannot wait to grow old with you. I love you babe.

A look back in time...............

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Just too Cute.........

Just look at Daddy and Jenna. They both melt my heart, they are just too cute. My little girl really isn't looking so little anymore. There are some days I just look at her and think my gosh she looks like she's three already. Her hair is finally long enough that I can actually get it into one ponytail in the back. She really looks like a big girl with her hair like that. In the pic above her hair is in a pony. I have to use like three barrettes in the back to help those hair's stay in place, but it still is just so cute. They were just hanging out in the computer room together so I just had to get a pic of them together. Jenna is really funny about having her picture taken lately. It's like she has to be in the mood, and if she is then and only then she will look at you to take the picture. She really does have a stubborn streak in her, I wonder where she gets it from? He, he! Well here's a couple more pics of my two cuties ....

Jenna giving Daddy her eyes----------More kisses

Take a look at that CHEESE......

Just a little side view of her o' so cute ponytail.

Just Relax.....

Today I went to Mane Attraction Salon and Spa to use my gift certificate from my birthday. It was even better than I imagined it would be. My day started at 11:00 AM. When I got there, I had to fill out a little questionnaire about my body and skin needs. This was for my massage and facial. My first treatment was my full body massage, it was wonderful. I have only ever had one other massage and it was a stone massage. I had this on our cruise we went on for our 5 year anniversary. Three years was way too long to wait to have another massage. I told Joe this evening when I got home, anytime he feels like he wants to treat me again I am all up for it. This truly was such a wonderful gift. Back to today, after my massage I had my facial. I have never had a facial before....... (I know.) I will definitely be going back for more of these, it was so relaxing. After my facial it was off to get my hands and toes done. First my manicure and then they did my pedicure. I always enjoy pedicures, but who doesn't enjoy someone else doing their toes for them? Lastly I was to have a shampoo and style done. I decided it was probably time for a trim, so I also had my hair trimmed at this time. I left there at about 5:00PM. It was a long day. It was well worth the wait, and the length of the day. All of the people there were really nice to me. It was also really nice inside the salon/spa, I had never been in there before. I think that I will probably go back the next time I need a trim and give someone else a try. I liked the woman I saw, I just didn't get that click there if ya know what I mean. Like I've said before, I am very particular about my hair and I just didn't feel like she understood what I was saying about my hair and how important it is to me. I know it probably sounds a little weird but everyone has something they're particular about and for me it's my hair. One bad cut job and I am done for a good bit of time. Once I went 2 years without one single trip to a salon, really bad experience that time. I am also thinking I'd like to try there again because it's so close to the house, and the prices are pretty reasonable, AND I'd love to not have to drive to Sterling for a hair trim. So, we will see hopefully the next time I need a trim I will like the next person more. Any of you out there that are in this area definitely need to have your husbands talk to mine so you too can have a day for you, like I did. Happy Friday! Hope everyone enjoys the beautiful weather we're supposed to have this weekend.

Business as Usual

Daddy left early this morning to go on a short trip up to Boston. He has a few meetings he has to go to. He will be back home with us tomorrow night. While he's there he managed to fit in a trip to a Cupcake place for me. Lulu's also just happened to be across the street from another bakery he wanted to go to. The last time Joe and I were in Boston was in 2003. I was pregnant with Jacob and we found a really good place to get really good Italian cookies. He went across the street to Mike's, I believe that's what it's called and picked us up some cookies. I can't wait for him to get home. Not just cause he's bringing us goodies, but because we miss him. He did manage to send me this picture of inside Lulu's Bakery from earlier today. It was taken with his cell phone camera, that's why it's a little fuzzy.

While Daddy was in meetings today, Nana and I and the kids headed to the Hagerstown Outlet Mall. I was in need of some good deals for some fall clothes for the kids. We also needed to find some shoes for the kids. We didn't do too bad, I found two pairs of shoes for Jenna, one at the Stride Right Outlet and one at Children's Place. I found one pair for Jacob also at the Stride Right Outlet, they all turned out to be reasonably good prices. We made out the best by far at The Children's Place Outlet. I got Jacob three shirts and Jenna three shirts. Most of which were 50% off the already reduced price. My best deal though was the jeans. They had girls jeans on sale for $2.99. I bought Jenna five pairs of jeans, off those shelves. Three pairs for the coming months and two pairs in 3T for hopefully next year. Did I also mention that I had a coupon for 15% off my entire purchase. The $2.99 jeans actually ended up being $2.55 a pair before tax. I don't know about you, but I have never purchased jeans for that cheap. Needless to say I was very happy with the purchases that I made today at CP. Those of you who have little ones should definitely go check it out, it's worth the drive. The Gap Kids Outlet also had a good deal of stuff on sale, no $2.99 jeans but also some good stuff. I also managed to find myself two new shirts for work for when it gets a little cooler. We didn't get to look everywhere we wanted to, cause I had to get home to go to work, but we still did really well for the amount of time we spent there, at the mall.

More Cupcakes!

Yesterday, Joe decided he would stop by Hello Cupcakes on the way home for me as on Thursdays they have a few flavors I was interested in. When he arrived there we (I was on the phone) discovered that Hello Cupcakes is apparently not open yet. It says on their website opening Summer 2008, and I know that somewhere on the web I read it was open. Anyway it's not. So Joe decided to venture over to Baked and Wired as we were both now in the mood for some good cupcakes. Now let me first say that Baked and Wired does not just sell cupcakes, they sell a variety of baked goods. They are more expensive than Georgetown Cupcakes, but the cupcakes are also much larger than GT. They are also a much better cupcake. Not only are they bigger but the cake was definitely more moist. The frosting was not cream cheese at least on the cupcakes I tried. When Joe got there he said that the woman behind the counter said they usually have more flavors but had sold out of a lot of them for that day. He got two of their strawberry cupcakes, a carrot cake cupcake and three chocolate cupcakes. I tried a bite of both the carrot cake cupcake and the strawberry cupcake. The carrot cake one was pretty good. I'm not really a carrot cake person but Joe enjoyed it. The strawberry one was pretty good. I enjoyed the cake it was white with strawberries in it. The frosting was a strawberry butter creme. It was a little sweet, so I could only eat so much of it. The chocolate cupcake was also really good and the frosting was a vanilla butter creme. Jenna really enjoyed this frosting and she even ate a little bit of cake, too. I have one more chocolate cupcake to eat and I think I'll have it after lunch today. Have a great Friday and enjoy the weekend.

Is it just us?

Okay so I've always has a small obsession with cupcakes. I really do love them. But on my daily blog rounds lately I have been checking out a lot of Melis B's links to cupcake blogs. This has really had me in the mood for some good cupcakes. Now don't get me wrong I think I am pretty good at making cupcakes, but I am just not in the mood to bake. I would rather have someone else do the baking. In my travels at The Cupcake takes the Cake blog they have a rather extensive list of Cupcakeries around the U.S. I have been checking out several in the D.C area, just cause well maybe they're convenient enough for Joe to stop at on his way home. And so he did just that for me on Tuesday. He stopped at Georgetown Cupcake, he brought home 6 cupcakes. We had a Chocolate & Vanilla, Vanilla2, Lava Fudge, Coconut, and 2 of the Red Velvets as this is their signature cupcake. Today on CTC blog they have a snippet of this article, this food critic liked these GT cupcakes? Joe and I did not. The cake was dry and well if you like cream cheese frosting you might like them. All of the cupcakes had cream cheese frosting. Don't get me wrong they looked really yummy but looks aren't everything right? I tried a bite of all of them with the exception of the coconut one. I don't really care for coconut so I opted not to try it. Of all of the cupcakes the vanilla2 was the best. Joe and I agreed that it was the best out of all of them. And well saying it was the best isn't really saying much. I did not eat any of that frosting because at that point I couldn't take any more of the frosting.

Before going to that bakery we had discussed going to a different one, Hello Cupcakes! We decided to try GT first since it was closer to Joe's work and he read lots of good reviews about it. Now in reading the comments after the article I linked above it seems a lot of people feel the same way about GT that Joe and I do. With that being said I am now really ready to try Hello Cupcakes. They look like they have lots of yummy flavors and a few people did say they we're good. This shop did just open not that long ago, so we will see. I am also looking forward to trying Baked and Wired they too got lots of good reviews. In the comments of the above article lots of people said that they were much better than GT cupcakes. So we will see just where I can get my hubby to go to next for me for my cupcake craziness. I will then let you know what I think of those cupcakes. Because you know that you all want to know : ) he,he! About a month or so ago we did try some cupcakes from a bakery in Maryland that a friend brought to us as she lives near it. Those were some pretty good cupcakes but unfortunately I can't remember the name of the bakery right now. I am sorry if I am making anyone hungry because I know every time I am reading about cupcakes it makes me hungry. Like now just writing about them and it's midnight, I am getting hungry.

Here's a picture of the cupcakes sorry about the lighting. Unlike myself Jenna did enjoy the frosting. And my Jacob of course wanted nothing to do with them : ) Hopefully our next venture to a new place will turn out to be better with better cupcakes.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Well another year has passed and I am now officially IN my THIRTIES. I can't just say I am 30, because well I'm not anymore. This age is much easier than I thought it was going to be. It's my children growing up so fast that's not so easy. Jenna will be TWO in just four short days. I really can't believe that she's two. It seems like not that long ago I was pregnant with her. Time really does fly while your little ones are growing up.

On a lighter note, have I mentioned lately how terrific my husband is? I mean aside from the vacation to Hawaii. My wonderful gift for my birthday. Not only did I get a really comfy pair of flip flops, my favorite lip gloss that I was out of, and a very cute tank top. I got a mini-wellness day at a local salon. I am super excited about this. I cannot wait until I get to use this certificate. This by the way was a total surprise. We also went out to dinner at one of my favorite places, Outback Steakhouse.

Earlier in the day we went to one of the neighbor's house for a birthday party, Johnny, who shares the same birthday as me. It's really kind of weird because I went most of my life not knowing anyone that shared the same birthday as me. Now I know of like eight people with the same birthday as me. First there's Johnny who turned five. The triplets down the street, another neighbor has a brother in law with my bday. One of the ladies I work with has two kids (not twins) born on June 1st. Oh and one of my previous store managers also born on June 1st, ten years early than me. From no one to eight people.

Did I also mention I didn't work today, a Sunday. Yippee, only cause it was my bday and I asked for it off. It sure was nice having a three day weekend. Hope every one else had a nice weekend.

***Was trying to share some pics from the weekend but having a problem uploading, will try again tomorrow.***