Simply Perfection

This birthday was quite perfect. Most of you know (because your getting older too) that birthdays are different these days. I remember talking to my dad on my first birthday after Carter was born...that day I had a sinking realization that my 6 month old had no idea today was special. She ate (la leche via her momma), pooped, and cried on schedule...oblivious to the fact that the day was any different than the one before. I think I secretly (and selfishly) feared that the days when my birthday felt special were over. But, now my baby is all grown up (ok, not really grown up) but old enough to roll over in our bed this morning while we snuggled, which is my favorite part of the day (the part before it actually begins), and put her hand on my face and say Happy Birthday Mommy. And it was the beginning of the sweetest day I think I've ever had. Because she and her thoughtful Daddy went above and beyond in the "let's make Beth feel special" category. And sometimes, especially when it's your birthday, that's just really nice.

This is me on my 28th birthday, with my favorite three year old in the whole world...

And when my other favorite person walked through the front door he delivered the goods! Store bought cupcakes baby~YES!! And as I sat at the table waiting for he and Carter to light the candle I realized that this is it...this is just about as perfect as it gets...I mean I'm hoping it just keeps getting better and better...but seeing the two people I love most and their sweet smiling faces singing Happy Birthday just about melted my heart!

Cupcakes...Check!

Happy three year old...Check!

Really cute husband in flight suit...Check, CHECK!!

And as if cupcakes for three weren't enough there were presents to be had! I know life is not about "the stuff" but I have to brag on Nate because he seriously out did himself. I decided having your birthday fall the week after your husband gets home from detachment is not a bad thing at all! Are you ready for this? Tomorrow he is whisking me away to the Tulalip Resort and Casino where we will spend approx. 36 "just you and me babe" hours! I'm scheduled at the spa (dahling) for 3 yes I said 3 hours!! That is slightly un-fathomable for me...

Followed by dinner at my choice (which I'm pretty sure is going to be PF Changs) and some shopping at Nordstrom Rack where I'm sure I'll be able to put the next thing he got me to good use...

AND as if that wasn't all enough..yeah, there is more...he got me this jacket that I've been sort of (which is kind of an understatement) going on and on about...

AND (yes there is more, it's sick I know) he also got me a new zoom lens for my camera! Which I will really need on our newly impending trip to D.C. (I'm telling you the military is never a dull place to be, more on that later)! So, now when I say that things like, "My husband is the most thoughtful guy," and "Nate is amazing!" You'll have a small glimpse into what life with him is like...insanely great and simply perfection really. Thanks Nate for all you did to make me feel more special than I could ever deserve...you and Carter are all the sunshine I need on these gray and cloudy days.

TODAY is my best friend's birthday!!

And technically speaking...she shares it with me! So pretty much we are like twins who were somehow born two years apart...ok...not really, but that would be creepy and cool and would mean that we would have our own reality TV show. It's actually just one of those happy coincidences that I get to share my birthday with one of the people I love most in this world! She has put up with me my entire life (and I can be very difficult)! We started out like most people do...very small...oh, and dressed alike, that's important...

We got a little bigger and our two-some turned into a trio...

And I think everyone who knew her would have said Kim was the sweetest thing you had ever met...

But, she also had a sweet sense of humor...she was always good for a laugh...

and as we got older, she only got funnier...

and more adventurous...

and more beautiful...

and I was always so proud to say, "Hey, that's my sister!"...

The one person who can always make me laugh...

and who I always have a good time with...

the person who loves my munchkin' like she was her own...

and who Carter loves right back...

For as long as I can remember you've been "standing" right there beside me...

and vice versa...

And while I'm so thankful you have John...

seriously...y'all are perfect for each other...

and I'm happy you've finally got your baby Griffin...

I'm also just thankful (the deep down in my heart kind) that we'll always have each other...

Happy Birthday Sweet Sister...you're the best present I've ever received! I Love You!

TAGGED! Pass it on...

I love my friend Sam she is full of sweetness and compassion, she is an awesome mom, oh, and did I mention she is just like Grace Kelley and is beautiful and rates 12 out of 10 on the scale of classiest people you will ever meet? Yeah, she is pretty perfect. I knew we would be friends (or should I say that I wanted to be her friend) the moment I saw her at Southpoint Church in Jacksonville the first day we visited. Lucky for me God had the same thing in mind and I'm so thankful for the way he puts people in our lives. So, now that she is going to love me forever for saying so many nice things about her :) here is the tag that Sam hit me with...

* I am: 27 years 364 days old, and happy.

* I want: to live each day to the fullest.

* I have: exactly what I've always dreamed of, right here under my roof.

* I dislike: the sound of food being chewed.

* I miss: the sunshine.

* I fear: losing someone I love.

* I feel: sore, the new core class I'm doing at the gym is kicking my rear.

* I hear: everything. Just ask my parents...I have supernatural hearing.

* I crave: swiss cake rolls and Diet Dr Pepper.

* I cry: every time Nate leaves and every time he comes home...it's a given.

* I usually: eat dessert.

* I search: for good deals, it's like a disease.

* I wonder: what I look like through Carter's eyes.

* I regret: losing my patience.

* I love: my little girl and her daddy, home is where they are.

* I care: about what people think.

* I always: stay up too late.

* I worry: yes, but I'm trying not to.

* I am not: a morning person.

* I remember: vaguely, what life was like before Carter.

* I believe: in God and that Jesus died on the cross for my sins.

* I dance: only for those who know me best. I do a mean Roger Rabbit and I can shake my booty with the best of them.

* I sing: mostly in the car and my favorite duet partner is little C.

* I don't always: eat what I should.

* I argue: with Nate, and I always wish I hadn't.

* I write: on my blog. It's a happy little place for me and my thoughts.

* I win: things I could care less about, like an eyebrow wax or a candle. I have never won anything big...maybe my day is coming.

* I wish: Carter had a little brother or sister.

* I listen: to things like "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me" and "Glamorous" while I run on the treadmill...it somehow motivates me to keep going.

* I don't understand: how it would feel to not be close to your family, I'm so grateful for mine.

* I can usually be found: wherever Carter is...we are like two peas in a pod.

* I need: to talk to my mom and my sister at least every other day, preferably daily.

* I forget: to put meat out to thaw for dinner and then we eat cereal...it happens.

* I am happy: see number one.


I'm passing it on to...mi madre (now that you are back up and running this will give you something to blog about:), Molly (which reminds me that the only thing I like about Molly on The Bachelor is her name, because she shares it with this fabulous person), and my blogging friend Heather who is currently surviving a deployment from her husband, way to go Heather (hope this gives you something fun to do!)

Sucked In!

Ok, so there are seemingly numerous different reasons NOT to love abc's The Bachelor, but I choose to ignore all of them and am completely sucked in! To make things more delicious (while he would never admit it) so is my hubby. He prefers to say, "he suffers" through it, but we both know better! We've spent the past two Monday nights snuggled up on the couch laughing our butt's off. Literally, I think I've burned an extra 200 calories just laughing. Normally Nate annoys the crap out of me when we watch "my shows" together. He makes fun of them relentlessly and I eventually wind of defending my TV friends and telling him to just let me enjoy my mindless entertainment! This however is a totally different story. I'm surprised our DVR made it through our endless replaying of the very special scene in which Natalie informed Jason that she "likes bears". If you didn't see it I'm sorry...I cannot re-create the humor for you. I decided the difference is Nate actually likes the bachelor Jason Mesnick, he lives in Seattle so we may try double dating with him and his new lady...


Which brings the question...who will that NEW lady be? Well, I have my definite front runner. She's cute, she's funny, she's DARLING, oh and she just happens to be from Texas (which doesn't influence me at all ;)...she's Melissa, and I'm hoping she has stolen Sir Smiles A Lot's heart...

Now, if for SOME crazy reason, Sir Smiles A Lot really is CRAZY and doesn't pick Melissa then I'm guessing he'll be going with Jillian, eh' what do you think eh'...she's funny, MATURE (which cannot be said about most of the competition) and by mature I mean she has yet to shed a single tear over the process, she's also bringing the 80's back one side ponytail at a time, and the fact that she is from Canada is a definite advantage eh', I'm betting she can handle the crazy Seattle weather...


And rounding out my top three is Molly. I can't say I really like Molly...but I'm going for accuracy and I'm pretty sure she's making the top three. I'm basing this loosely off the fact that she spent the better part of last nights show wearing a pair of Jason's mesh shorts (which I don't think she looked as cute in as she thought)...but I'm thinking that will get her into the top three for sure. I thought Melissa said it best, "I don't like that she smells like him and is wearing his pants!" I couldn't have said it better myself...


So, we're down to the big 5 and I think the next to go are Naomi and Stephanie (in that order). I think now that SWF stalker Shannon the creep-O is gone Naomi will bring enough crazy for both of them next week! And, while Stephanie is literally as sweet as sugar I think she is just too much of a Georgia Peach for Jason to handle!! Whatchoo think? Feel free to weigh in! Oh wait, that means I'm assuming you are all as addicted as me...sorry!

Monday Carter Edition #13

Well, due to popular demand (which means at least one person said, "Hey I hope Monday Carter continues!") Monday Carter is sticking around! Nate is home, but we don't live in a dream world and we know that won't last forever...So, Monday Carter will continue and that way she'll be alive and kicking the next time he heads out to keep America safe! Today Monday Carter was ready to get back to MDO, she'd had a very busy week hanging with her homey, I mean Daddy, and was excited to tell all of her friends about it! Today was Pajama Day and she was looking cute from the front...

And the back...

I had SO much fun telling all my friends about the week I had with my daddy! He had promised that when he got home he would take me to one of my favorite places Jungle Playland...and guess what?! That's the first place we went! It was so fun sliding on slides and climbing...

I was also stylin' and profilin' when we headed to one of our favorite breakfast spots the Calico Cupboard...

Of course I had my favorite guy to keep me company...

The other really fun surprise was waiting for me yesterday when I woke up...there wasn't a lot but it was snowing! I was so excited (too bad we missed the great Whidbey snowstorm of '08!)...

We've been having so much fun! But mostly I've just been kissing my daddy A LOT and telling him how glad I am that he is finally home!

Dear Daddy~I'm so glad that you are now a part of every Monday! I can't tell you how much I missed you and how very glad I am that you are home! Thank you so much for doing so many fun things with me this week, I loved every minute of hanging out with you! You are the best dad in the whole world...I'm so glad you are mine! XOXO Carter

Pops Goes the Weasel...Happy Birthday DAD!!

My parents live in the not too small, not too big West Texas mecca of Abilene. The people are friendly, the BBQ is famous, and my dad...well, he's a local celebrity! That's what happens when you are one of the best high school football coaches in the state of Texas (I'm not biased or anything). My dad makes the news most nights during football season and if you see him around town he'll be quick to give you a smile and a wave. He's a coach...but so are lots of people...what makes him different is he is a coach. He embodies everything that it means to be a good one. And the difference between him and the next guy is for him it's more than a job, it's a way of life...




He's pretty busy kicking ass and taking names, but he somehow manages to find time to be really good at some other things as well. He's a great husband to my sweet as pie mom...

And together they created the family that I feel thankful everyday to be a part of...

Of course that means he's been a pretty awesome dad, for as long as I can remember...

and of course, that hasn't changed one bit...

But, I think the thing I most thankful for right this very minute is that Carter has my dad in her life to be her Pops...
To teach her to say things like, "Pops goes the weasel", and "Dang that's tasty!"
I know he'll be there to make her laugh...

and vice versa...

Because it's easy to see, just by the way he looks at her, that she is adored...

and for that I couldn't be more grateful. Happy Birthday Dad...when I grow up I still want to be like you! We love you!