Things aren't always as we want them to be

The video in the following post is quite amusing, if I may say so myself. Unfortunately, Blogger is having issues with video posts. Hopefully, it will be repaired soon and you can enjoy the humor of Randy and me figure skating. :)

Things aren't always as we want them to be... yesterday a very, very dear lifelong friend passed on to a pain-free, cancer-free life. She is reunited with her mother and Granny on Heaven's streets of gold.

Things aren't always as we want them to be... out of necessity, I am home in bed sick, very sick. The doctor's diagnosis is bronchitis, sinus infection, swollen throat (but not strep yet), and out of control asthma. I can definitely say this is not one of my more pleasant weeks thus far in my life.

Here's to hoping things get better soon...

Ice Skating

In our free time, Randy and I have recently taken up figure skating. What do you think?

January

Out of all twelve months, January is the busiest for us. We have 5 birthdays in 9 days. Randy kicks it off on the 11th. Eli follows on the 12th. Next is Daniel on the 15th. Then my day is the 16th, and sister Pam ends the celebrations on the 20th.

I grew up with Dad, Mom, and brother Bennett. I was adopted, one of the most wonderful things that has happened to me in this lifetime. Mom, Dad, and Bennett all have birthdays in August. I was the only one in January. I grew up feeling left out during that month and all alone in January. Now, it's funny.

At the young age of 17, I met my biological brothers, sisters, and their families. Instantly, I had a sister with a January birthday. How cool was that!

Evidently, that wasn't enough for me. I had two of my four kids in January also. My firstborn and last born are Eli on January 12th and Daniel on January 15th, ten years apart. I thought surely January was the best month of all. Now I had my sister and two of my kids in January with me.

Then, along came Randy. You guessed it. His birthday is in January. One of many indicators he was THE ONE for me. Haha! Not only was his birthday in January with Pam, Eli, Daniel, and me, his special day is in the same 9 day span as the rest of us.

So, you see, January is busy, exciting, and a bit hectic here on John Peter Way. Being the party creatures we are (we love hosting parties for any occasion), we celebrate big.

For 2010, Randy got flowers (He also got me roses on Saturday) and his requested dinner of corned beef brisket and steamed cabbage. Eli went shopping on her day. My birthday fell on Saturday, so we had not one, but TWO parties that day. The "older" generation had a party at 2:00. Randy's kids and granddaughter, Emma, Randy's parents, and my dad came over for snacks and Scene-It. Thanks, Andrew and Heather for the Catch Phrase game. We played it also... at both parties.

After the first group left at 4:30, the younger generation took over. I changed the Cubs decorations to something more teenager-friendly, refilled the snacks, and started again. Daniel invited some friends from school over for his 5:00 party. We ordered pizza and enjoyed the antics of teenagers for the evening. It was a great day!

On Sunday, my sister, Linda, had a surprise party for my sister, Pam. She was really surprised. :) We went to Pizza Hut. Pineapple and black olives. Score! We had a great time visiting and reminiscing.

With Sarah hanging out in India for the semester, we had her "21st-going away-Christmas-birthday party" in December before she left. We get a little break before the next party. Daniel Scott is next in line in April. Can't wait for more partying. :)

Another Teacher in the family

Deborah came by this evening to bake homemade apple pies.  Yum!  We had a great time together peeling apples and baking.  While we were being so domestic in the kitchen I also made homemade granola... with fresh apple this time and less oil.  I thought the last batch was good.  This one is better.

Deborah took her oral exams for her Montessori certification.  She took the written exam last May.  All of her scores were outstanding.  She has until May to finish up a few other activities and she will get her certificate!  Way to go, Deborah!  

Additions to our tree family

We proudly announce the addition of three peach trees to our tree family on John Peter.  Belle (Belle of Georgia Peach) and Lori (Loring Peach) are hanging out in the backyard with Maggie.  Harvey (Harvester Peach) is just across the fence in the side yard.   Being newly planted, they all had to have haircuts, so they are looking a bit bare at the moment.  We are excited to see how they blossom in the spring.

The backyard is also home to two blackberry bushes and green peas in the planters.

Randy has been going to gardening classes.  He is becoming a Master Farmer.

Stay tuned for garden updates.

the winter garden

Lori

Belle

Harvey

Luxuries in Life

A deluxe spa pedicure and manicure yesterday after work.... It's the small things in life that make it great.

The Year of the Garden 2010

And so the journey begins.....

The garden in 2009 was such a tremendous success, Randy has decided to expand his "hobby" and is taking classes on gardening, has lots of fun tools for the garden, and has already bought three peach trees and lots of seed packets.

Yesterday Randy got three peach trees. Belle of Georgia (Belle), Loring (Lori), and Harvester (Harvey) are the newest additions to the tree family on John Peter Way.

Today Randy went to a gardening class at Northaven Nursery. He said it was a good presentation, complete with powerpoint handouts.

Randy was so inspired by the class he bought seed packets and two blackberry bushes. We now have broccoli,black-eyed peas, Kentucky Wonder pole beans, bush beans, Chinese cabbage, zucchini, and spinach seeds.

Stay tuned as the adventures of the garden in 2010 begin...