Feb 19
I was on kid duty tonight. A voluntary thing, let me assure you. I like spending time with my siblings. Since Mom, Jess & Logan wanted to go see “Dear John” (I already saw it and enjoyed it – I LOVE Channing Tatum), I offered to watch the kids. Reece was away on a camping trip (who goes camping in the snow anyway?), so it was the 2.0s , Wade and I. Dad is in Brazil, but he gets back soon, wahoo!
At first we said we’d have a “girls night plus Wade.” He quickly corrected us – we were going to have a “girls night plus THE MAN.” And we did – a little popcorn, a movie, cupcakes and some nail polish. (The Man skipped out on the nail polish.)
This isn’t the first time this week that Wade has cracked me up. Mom and I were hanging out at the table while all the boys were being their usual crazy selves. I said we needed to think of a word to describe them – without skipping a beat, Wade had one. “Sexy.” And then he walked out of the room.
Can I just tell you I love my life? Really, how could I not?
Tagged with: 2.0s • cassie • channing tatum • dad • family • girls night • jessie • logan • missouri • mom • reece • sam • wade
Dec 21
We went shooting this weekend. “We” is a misnomer. I did not actually fire a gun. I took pictures.
For some reason, firing a gun seems to ignite total masculinity. Trust me. Take a look at the pictures.
At our house, when someone’s extra masculine, we say they’ve got their “man boots” on. Well this weekend, EVERYONE had their man boots on. Even Cassie. (I had to include her in the pictures. Hello – she did a “man” pose too! How could I not include her?)
My dad is the best shot – duh. He can tell the person to “pull!” (to release the clay pigeon) while the gun’s relaxed by his hip and still blow it out of the air. My bros were pretty freaking amazing too – Logan hasn’t been shooting for almost 3 years, and he blew EVERY SINGLE clay pigeon he fired at to smithereens. Reece keeps a cool enough head that if he misses the first shot, he can get off the second while the clay pigeon’s still in the air. It never stands a chance against him. Wade is only 13 and is a pretty good shot. And Cassie – she TOTALLY rocks. If you’ll notice, the gun is almost as big as her. I guess sometimes, you’ve just got it. Enter man boots.
Tagged with: brothers • cassie • dad • guns • logan • man boots • reece • wade
Dec 10
My parents have a quote up on their wall. They say it’s from the Princess Bride, but it’s been awhile since I watched the movie (a shame, I know!), so when I see the quote, I really only think of them. Before I tell you the quote, take a look at this picture from the other night.
TRUE LOVE. YOU THINK THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY?
My parents are still crazy in love and I think it’s the best thing ever. 27 years of marriage and 8 kids haven’t changed that – if you asked, I think they’d tell you it’s even better than they imagined. (Well, at least some days they’d tell you that.) Whether the quote’s from Princess Bride or not – my parents have that love story beat.
Oh – and I couldn’t help putting up this next pic. My mom sometimes sings an old song called “Hopelessly Devoted To You.” (My dad does not sing. Except in Church.) This picture makes me think of that song.
One of the greatest things my parents ever did for us was to stay in love with each other. We always knew that my mom came before any of the rest of us (in my dad’s eyes) and that the same was true about my dad in my mom’s eyes. Whoever thought second place could be so good?
Tagged with: allen • cameron • dad • family • missouri • mom • princess bride • shannon
Nov 24
First off, Happy Thanksgiving!!! (And I know I’m a couple days early, but I’m celebrating all week.) I hope you eat lots of turkey, if that’s your thing. My personal weakness on Thanksgiving is crescent rolls. I can skip the turkey entirely (but I normally don’t) as long as I have crescent rolls. My all-time favorite crescent rolls are made by Alisha. Unfortunately, I will have to settle for not-quite-my-all-time-favorite crescent rolls this Thanksgiving, because she will be stuck in Utah. (Collective *sob* from the entire family.)
At Church this week, the speaker talked about how happiness is a byproduct of gratitude. It’s really made me focus on all the things I’m grateful for – after all, I LIKE being happy! It’s totally worked. It’s been a good week.
I started to write a list of all the things I’m grateful for. It got too long. Like, crazy long. So instead of boring you with all the details (like how grateful I am for the brilliant blue bathmats I have in my bathroom, complete with matching towels), I thought I’d share some thoughts I’ve had about the things I’m grateful for.
I realized that the things I am most grateful for in my life can’t be bought. They actually aren’t “things” at all. They are people. And people are irreplaceable. There is nothing that beats being able to be the big sister who comes home on the weekends to curl your 9 and 10 year-old sisters’ hair. Or being able to play cards with your crazy family until midnight and not even noticing the time. Or being able to watch your brothers grow up and learn to be men. It’s fantastic to have girlfriends who you can laugh (and cry) with. It’s so nice to have guy friends you can dance with (and who will move furniture for you). It’s amazing to have professional associates who will send you examples of things you’ve never done before. People rock.
Things are just that – things. Even though they might make life more enjoyable sometimes, they don’t love you back. And yes, I hear some of you saying your Audi loves you back. Trust me – it’s got nothing on the people I know.
Tagged with: alisha • allen • cassie • church • dad • family • grateful • jessie • logan • missouri • mom • quotes • reece • sam • shannon • wade
Oct 16
And real women let them.
My Dad has opened the door for my Mom as long as I can remember. And so do my brothers. In fact, my brothers even open the door for ME. Even the car door. When I get in. And when I get out. (Yes ladies, someday they will make someone a wonderful husband. If they do that at 12 and 15, just wait until they are really crazy about someone. After all, I’m just their sister.)
I don’t consider it a slight to my gender that my Dad and my brothers show respect for women. To me, it’s the ultimate mark of manliness. So a special thanks to all the real men out there. YOU. ARE. THE. MAN.
Tagged with: allen • brothers • dad • family • logan • masculinity • missouri • real men • reece • wade
I was on kid duty tonight. A voluntary thing, let me assure you. I like spending time with my siblings. Since Mom, Jess & Logan wanted to go see “Dear John” (I already saw it and enjoyed it – I LOVE Channing Tatum), I offered to watch the kids. Reece was away on a camping trip (who goes camping in the snow anyway?), so it was the 2.0s , Wade and I. Dad is in Brazil, but he gets back soon, wahoo!
