Party of five.

We have a magnet on our refrigerator that has all these different faces on it, and you are supposed to move a small black frame onto how you are feeling for that day. I forget about it most of the time, or leave it in between emotions. But last night I officially moved it to HAPPY.
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I had gotten a quick IM from Mike yesterday that he was shutting down his computer and would call me when he got to New York in the morning. He flew all night from Lagos to NY. I went to bed and felt good knowing he'd be home the next day.
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This morning we got up and the kids went to school. I heard from Mike early that he had a long story but was able to make it on the flight and would be home. I watched flightaware and tracked his flight from NY to DC, then on to Cincinnati.
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I left for the airport and waited for about 20 minutes before the screens said that his flight had landed! I was so excited!! I waited at the top of the escalator waiting for everybody to make their way up from the gates. It's funny because the way you look down, all you can see is feet for several steps before you see the whole person come out. I noticed that I always recognize Mike's feet and his gait how he walks. Sure enough... I spotted his feet. :) That is 20 years of marriage.
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That escalator ride up from the bottom floor to the waiting area is painfully long when you are waiting for somebody! I stood there trying not to jump out of my shoes, like a little girl! Finally he made it up, stepped to the side and I got a kiss. Then we went over to wait for his luggage.
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He's home.
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The kids were so excited to see him after they got out from school. I know he was so tired from the time difference and traveling for so many hours. After awhile we ended up taking a quick nap on the couch while we waited for Matthew to come home. Matthew never comes in the house quietly after a day of school. Usually he opens the door and says something to make sure everybody knows he's home. - I heard him come through the door, loud as usual, and woke up. It startled me at first to realize that I had my head on Mike's lap. The first few days are always so strange. It always feels like a dream.
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So of course we're getting used to the time difference again....which means he stays up as late as he possibly can. Tonight he made it to 9:00, 2:00 a.m. in Africa. Even going into our room it still feels strange to see him asleep on the bed.
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I'm glad this year he gets to be home during the fall. He missed it the past two years. It is such a pretty season around here. I can't wait for him to see some of it. The last things we had done together were enjoying the motorcycle rides during the summer and then my surgery. It finally feels like life is normal.
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I'm posting a couple of layouts from the two birthdays this month. The one of Matthew has a white background, which always posts weird. I'll be working on another one of his birthday with his presents and his big shopping trip that he has been patiently waiting to take with Mike to the Lego store tomorrow.

Happy birthday Matthew!!!

I LOVE this boy!!

He had eight candles on his cake....but he wanted one more wish. Hey, that is ok with me. Can you have enough wishes on your birthday?

I think Matthew had a good day today. He was so excited to wake up and have presents on the table. Before school he got: a lego set, several Star Wars figures (I saved R2 for his cake as a surprise.) a cool camo dog tag necklace and some Star Wars jammies.

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I took cookies and birthday plates into his school....which he had picked out the day before at the store. He came home with a bunch of cookies and told me that he hadn't eaten one. I asked him why not and he said, "My teacher said that they had peanuts in them."

"Um, no...why would I send you to school with birthday treats for your class and you not be able to have one? Let alone, why would I buy anything with peanuts??"

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Apparently they were a little freaked out that the label said that these may have been baked on equipment that had come in contact with peanuts. Ugh, a label that is on EVERYTHING. I am glad they were cautious with his allergy, but really??? Would I send in cookies that he wouldn't be able to eat on his birthday? Oh well....

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Today may be the official birthday, but we'll be celebrating tomorrow. TOMORROW Mike comes home, and we'll go out to dinner. - and we'll make sure he gets an extra piece of cake to make up for the missing cookie.

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And thus concludes the birthday season......lol.

These little feet....

are going to be EIGHT years old tomorrow.

The weird thing is, I remember when Trevor turned eight here in Kentucky. It really doesn't seem like we've been here that long. - Matthew just cannot be turning eight. Sorry Matthew, but you are still the baby and forever in my mind as four or five years old. I just can't get used to eight.

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I went out today and got some things for tomorrow. He wanted a chocolate cake, so I got all of the makings for it. Plus birthday paper plates for his classroom tomorrow to share cookies with his classmates, PLUS a few surprises. A lego set, some star wars guys and a dog tag necklace. (He's very into military stuff and was wanting one a long time ago, but i was never able to find one.) Today I stumbled upon one and knew that it was meant to be. I think he'll be surprised.

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ALSO!
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Mike comes home on Friday!!!!! I can't contain my excitement! I am giddy! The best part is that he'll be home in the afternoon, so I will be able to pick him up from the airport before the kids get home so we can enjoy a lunch together. Then we'll have a family dinner to celebrate all of the October birthdays.

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He's going to be surprised by the weather here. He's been in Africa and has told me about how hot it has been. It is so beautiful here with the fall. I'm glad this year he gets to be home while the leaves are actually falling and we can drive around and look at the pretty trees.

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Also, my mom is coming back out for a visit! I am looking forward to having some time without post surgery stuff. Honestly....I was on so many medications that I don't remember a heck of a lot from her last trip here.

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It's Survivor night. :)

TRAVEL SAFE!! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AT THE AIRPORT!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Happy birthday #12!!!

Today is Megan's 12th birthday! I actually even had the day off without having to request it, which was so nice.
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Last night we started by making her birthday cake...an ooey gooey butter pumpkin. It is one of her favorites and it was hard to not get into it after it cooked because the house smelled so good.

Today she went to school and said that a ton of people said happy birthday to her, and in chorus they sang to her. I picked her up an hour early for fun.

I spent the day looking for a stablemate to go on her cake. I went to Target, but no luck. They always have them! So I drove over to Midway Tack and found one. It was perfect.
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When she got home from school I had the table decorated for her to see as soon as she walked in. I found these cool paper balls at Target a long time ago (I think they were summer decorations) but they looked festive and happy! She knew exactly what the wrapped box was on the table. When I was little I could spot a Breyer box no matter how it was wrapped!
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We got her Rachel Alexandra (horse that won the derby) and a gift bag full of baby goldfish crackers so she won't run out. Story behind the goldfish: She loves them. She can eat the regular ones, but prefers to bite the heads off of the little baby ones. She will come home from school and eat a bowl of them whenever she can. For some reason, Kroger has been out of them for about a month. Each time we'd walk by to check....the baby goldfish part of the shelf was empty. Boo.
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I made a point to stop at a differnt store today and found them. So I bought 5 bags. That ought to keep her in baby goldfish for a bit. I think she was actually pretty surprised.
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I love the look on her face when she found out what horse it was.


Last week during Fall break, one of her friends had invited her to go to Lexington for the World Equestrian Games. She had some money saved up, and her friend gave her some money to pick out a horse to bring home. Her and Celeste spent an hour walking around the Breyer Barn looking at all the models and talking in collector geek talk about Trads, Special Runs, etc. It makes me laugh, because I still understand it myself.
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She came home with Espirit (The official special mold made for the WEG, and says Kentucky 2010 on it's belly.) and one of the treasure hunt horses for the year. This photo reminds me so much of my photos from when I was a kid. There was always a table top full of new horses.

She has been saving her birthday money and wants to spend a day at the mall shopping, so I plan on taking her within the week. :)

12 continued...

below: stablemate on a cake. Originally a tradition started by my mom....thanks mom! It's still going strong. Below: weirdo.

below: *sigh* 12 years old. I don't understand, I did not look like that at 12 years old. She is looking way too big.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Megan. I love you!
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Little side note: that gerber daisy in the pot? That is from the flowers that my sister brought home from the store one night when she was out helping me after my surgery. The original two blossoms have since gone, but it keeps popping out new flowers. It has been a very happy plant out on the porch. :)

Right now.

My girl. Who will be 12 years old tomorrow.

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It has been a lot of the same here. Work, housework, same old stuff. Last week was fall break for the kids. October is birthday month..... Megan's is tomorrow and then Matthew's is next week. Also....Mike comes home from Africa!! Honestly this past month has gone by relatively quick. Which I am glad....I am ready to have him back home.

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It's been awhile since I did one of these. I have read ones from years past and think it's interesting to see the changes. This one will probably seem pretty severe since it's no secret that I am not a happy camper where we are right now. Which is why I hope to look back on this post in awhile and laugh, and think, "Whew. Glad that part is OVER."

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Right now:

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outside my window: I can't see out my window because the blinds are shut, but I'd probably guess that the grass is still dead due to the drought and my neighbor is probably outside smoking.

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I am thinking: I am kind of overwhelmed today. It's my first day off in days and I know i have a lot i need to get done. I'm not motivated at the moment. Lol. I'm also thinking about Mike.

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I am thankful for: Africa.

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I am wearing: jeans, pink tshirt, my black sketchers i always wear to work and a ponytail.

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I am creating: not much.

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I am going: to start another load of laundry and to pick up a pizza in a bit that I promised Trevor we'd have during fall break. (Donato's - his favorite.)

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I am reading: nothing. Reading makes me sleepy.

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I am hoping: for good things to come! I can feel it.

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I am hearing: U2 on my computer. One. I love that song.

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Around the house: laundry in separated piles near the laundry room floor waiting their turn, clean folded laundry on my bed waiting to be put away. Megan and Trevor are home from school, and Matthew should be home in about 30 minutes. Legos littering the floor. (That never changes, and they hurt.)

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One of my favorite things: New season of Survivor, Amazing Race, Hell's Kitchen and Modern Family. My Keurig.

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A few plans for the following week: Final follow up appointment to the doctor after surgery, getting my hair colored, work, CELEBRATE MEGAN'S 12th birthday.

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Something that made me laugh: A line Megan told me...."If you believe in reincarnation, would your headstone say BRB instead of RIP?"

I love you Mike!

Bithday number *0. lol.

Yeah, that was a pretty awesome hair day.

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Matthew took this picture the other day while I was helping kids get ready for school in the bathroom. It's the only one I have right now....it was taken the day before my birthday. So technically I'm still only 39 in that one!

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Megan wants to carry on with the tradition of getting a photo of me on my birthday like I do with them, but I had to work yesterday (after getting to sleep in!) and today I work again....but it is freezing cold outside and not too pleasant to go out for any pictures. We are planning on tomorrow. (crossing fingers for a bit warmer and sunnier day, even though we desperately NEED the rain right now.)

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My birthday was nice. Matthew woke me up early to make breakfast for me. Cereal and toast. He wanted to be up earlier than I did, so after I ate I went back to bed for awhile. Then I got up and started to get ready for work. Most might think working on your birthday would be a bummer, but it was only a short shift that got me out of the house for awhile (and away from the urge to clean at the house) I enjoy my job enough that it doesn't feel like a chore anyway. (Ask me that again after the Christmas season. Where right now the unofficial store motto in the break room is "There is NO CRYING in retail." Said after feeling like you have been beaten up and want to go hide in a fitting room in a fetal position.)

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Thanks to facebook, most of the people I work with knew it was my birthday too, so I was greeted with lots of well wishes too. I have my eye on some things that I might go back and buy too. Only i wanted to go in on a day when i had time to try things on and not work all day cleaning up fitting rooms and then have to be in one again. lol.

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I heard from my dad who sang a solo on my voicemail, my mom and sister who are in Florida right now, so I heard from them as well.....along with a huge group sing later that day that consisted of both of them, plus my aunt and uncles, cousins too. It cracked me up to hear them all. Plus they did a dang good job on speaker phone!

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I even heard from Mike, all the way from Africa. It was so strange. His internet had been out all day so i hadn't heard from him before i left for work. It made me a little sad, but i knew he'd be trying like crazy to get in touch with me for my birthday. So i know it wasn't his fault. I figured i would hear from him before the end of my day. But then in the middle of work i hear a page over the store intercom that I had a call on line one. I thought for sure it would be the usual...another store calling to find out if we had something in a certain size. Instead it was Mike. So there I am standing behind a bunch of shirts, my eyes watering because of being happy, relieved and also a little stunned. lol. It was such a surprise! Farthest thing in the world that i would have expected. He said a quick happy birthday and told me that he'd wait up until i got home from work so that we could talk on instant message. We got to talk for a long time after that, which was so nice.

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After work the kids and I went to Culver's for dinner. It was a really nice day. Thank you!! :)

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Which here it is....October. The month of birthdays. My sister's is next week....then Megan's....then Matthew's! October always goes by so fast because of all there is to look forward to! This year we also cap off October with a visit from my mom and Mike coming home!

Counting down the days until the 22nd!! I can't wait!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!