Throughout the Years

I've been working on a project for my grandparents 60+ wedding anniversary and I've been coming across alot of older pictures of Christian. Oh the memories, tears, smiles, and laughter have been flooding back this last week!

To how the nurses kept calling him "so small" when he was born (7 lbs 12 oz didn't seem small to be me!) because all the other babies in the nursery were 10 lbs plus, infact the baby boy right next to C was a 13 lber...yikes! To how my dad had named him "Mr. Magnet" because everyone was always coming up to him and stating how cute he was. His imagination was endless (guess that's from being an only child, growing up in the country around nothing but adults), always playing with imaginary friends, Matt. To wanting to be an Architect and go to Penn State from the time he was 3 years old and it's still holding true at the age of 14 and the facination with trucks and cars! From dump trucks, to backhoes, to yes even the garbage truck. And yet even into the teenage years, as parents, we've always commented to anyone who's asked that we've been blessed with a wonderful son, that we keep waiting for the roof to fall in on our heads...the wild times...it doesn't mean that Christian hasn't had his "Wilbur" moments, from the only time he ever wrote on anything but paper (and it was close to Christmas time and Santa got a picture of this!) to yes the "teenage rhino" moments where I truly wonder if I will make it out alive!

These next 3 1/2 years of high school will bring so many more memories let alone *sigh* marriage, grandkids (let's hope that's along time coming yet!!!!) and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to have these memories!

~danine

Rhino Wrestling

I do have to say the time has come that Ben can no longer take C down.  Infact, it's quite evident that C is learning to wrestle his way around Ben and do some damage of his own now and even to push Ben around (let's just face hon, you've gotten old like me...hehe!!).

As evidence entails, the ritual male bonding took place this morning in our kitchen as I was trying to herd the crew out the door for their haircuts and low and behold my boys (can you see I didn't say men...I said B-O-Y-S) get into a rumbling match.  Needless to say a couple punches and "ouch's" in, I grabbed my trusty camera and started to document that C was getting some licks in on Ben....whoooo hooooo!!  

I was so enthralled that C's day had FINALLY come (we all warned you Ben!) that I could of cared less if we were an hour late *gasp..what horror* to their appointment.  

What's even funnier is all these years of Ben rough housing with C, C ended up turning the tables and learning all those tricks and using them right back at his 'ol dad today.  As you can tell here........they're both going for the "grab the hood and pull over the face deal"....neither one succeeded though.

Since it seems like they got their wrestling moves down, now I'll see if I can get both of them to cook a meal, do laundry, clean the house AND bake me an apple pie.....I'd be in heaven!         ~danine

Two Minor Miracles This Week

Ok, so in our comfy little world two minor miracles took place this week.  First C and I both signed up for a gym and personal trainer. I can't explain how excited I am.  First that I am financially able to do this for C and myself and second that we are going to get in shape together.  I'd set a goal last year to loose my weight before C graduated from high school, thinking that I wouldn't push myself and allow myself time to loose the allotted (ok huge) amount of weight that I want to do and maintain the weight loss (that's the kicker there...maintain!).  C got into shape was soccer kicked his arse but unfortunately he put some of his weight back on after soccer season ended.  Now, he can train for soccer season and hopefully this will help him in his goal to get his varsity letter this next year as a sophmore.  I'll keep everyone update on our progress!

Second I am now a proud owner of my first pair of Nike sneakers!  And to top even that my first new pair of sneakers in over 11 years...yes 11 years.  As you can see even Cole the cat was into them.  Mom's know, you spend money on everyone else but yourself, well I figured that with going to the gym, I REALLY needed a good pair of sneakers and since C's feet are now twice the size of mine I can't use any of his multiple pair.  I'm so excited...you'd think I got diamonds!

~danine

I've been tagged....did I tag you?

Well my lovely friend Suzie photo tagged me so here it is.

It's a picture of my grandfather (Papa), Rhino, and my dad (PD) at Christmas time at Papa's house.  It's the three generations of men in my life that mean so much to me.  I'm blessed to have them all still with me.

Now it's your turn, Lisa and Kelly and Ros to all be tagged.  The rules are you go to your fourth picture folder and choose the fourth picture in that folder and post in with an explanation as to what it's about.  Then you can tag someone else.

Have fun!

~danine

Ringing in the New Year

The Rhino and I took some candid shots prior to him taking off to go ring in the New Year at a friends house.  I couldn't resist being a goof ball here and you can absolutely tell that C LOVES his mother to death (actually I'm thinking he's wondering how fast he can book me into the psych ward at the local nursing home)  This was the first time that C took off to spend the New Year away from us and just hang with friends (again reality check that our boy is growing up, *sigh, sniff, sniff*).  Thank goodness for modern technology and we got to get out happy New Year wishes into each other via texting.

Ben and I, meanwhile stayed home and had a bunch of friends of for some poker, grown up drinks, and the ultimate....Rock Band time.  All in tale, we all had a good time bringing in 2009!

Now only to wait and see what 2009 beholds!

~danine