The way they do things in South America...

 It seems that in South America it is customary to feed anyone who works for you a meal. 

I learned that from watching HGTV

I told Miss Hannah about it and she and I both agreed that was a pretty cool custom.

We both agreed that I should abide by that when she works for me.

I kind of like tradition and customs and feeding Hannah.

So tonight after she picked up dog poop...she is saving up all her money to buy an ipod touch:-)

we headed to dinner.

 just an FYI she really loves fries...and ketchup!

I don't know why but I love when I catch Matt sitting like this. It just makes him seem so little still. 

I laugh to think that Hannah will remember her whole life about the South American custom that she learned from her neighbor that paid her to pick up dog poop...as she is making her cleaning lady a sandwich! 

5 favorites from the land of denial...

I am living in the land of denial...

Yes, it is true...

Even Jenny can tell you that I am...

Denial is kind of a fun place...

I kind of like it here and I think for now I will stay...

I do have a few new favorite items that I want to share with you and they can actually be enjoyed outside the land of Denial(yes, I am capping it because it really is a place)

Oh, and if I was Oprah.. I would be sending one of these out to all of you...I'm not so buy them yourself. Lucky you, some are free!!!

The first up on my new list of favorite things is Coconut Oil. Oh how I love it. It is on the list of things that are GOOD for you!...more importantly..it is YUMMY!!! Really yummy. If you have not ever used it buy it and try it. You can send your thank you's to monica@Iwasright.com (hehe)

My number #2 new love is www.pinterest.com

Oh, how I love Pinterest!!!

This is an online pin up board. Every time you find something you like online you can "put a pin in it" and then you can find and share stuff super easy. It is also an amazing resource for cool stuff...just go check it out and then send an email to the above address

My third favorite thing is the worst gift I ever received! You see Shana bought me this cut grass candle for my birthday and it consumed my life. It was the best smelling candle. It made me feel like it was spring. It was magic made out of wax...funny thing about magic..it is hard to find! Really hard to find. They sell this one on Amazon for a ton of money...a ton! 

#4 is Nupa...

Oh, how I love Nupa...

This greek restaurant is simply amazing...

#5 is anything Apple...

I know this may make me look like kind of a snob.. but really it is the only brand ever in my whole life that I was so passionate about..

It just works! Everything they touch just works. No crashes..no viruses..no issues...

I would buy every teacher I know a Mac if I could.. 

If I were president every school would have tons of Macs and Ipads... reading tests and math assessment tests would be taken on ipads...and they would be fun! and they would be accurate..

I'd like to buy the world a Mac...

The world will be at a loss when Steve Jobs passes away. He has given us much.

I am sure I have more favorites that I want to share but for now that is my top 5

Maybe I can share pictures from Nupa from later this week...hint hint Shana!!! How does Thursday look???

Checking in...

 This blog post is simply to let you know we are alive.

March has slipped past like an ordinary weekend. 

We have been so busy with Mike gone and then trying to enjoy every moment when he is here.

I have hardly picked up my camera. I made a point to pick it up today..even though it is nothing exciting. 

 First off, I wanted to share Matt's new short spring hair. 

Then it was on to more cooperative subjects...

 Charlie has Matt's "oh brother" attitude when it comes to be my subject. 

 Portis however was all about it..as long as I gave him treats. 

 If you know him you can almost hear his "bowwwuuuw" in this picture

 Then there is this one of him smiling...At least I have one cooperative subject in the house. 

I have an idea for a post that I want to do with a bunch of my new favorite things...one of these is for sure the steaks Mike has been making. He has totally mastered the grill. They are amazing. I can't wait to share the with someone.

no cake for 9 years...then two of them!

Yesterday when I was posting about my birthday I had it planned to talk about both my amazing birthday cakes..I had uploaded this picture in the middle of my post and removed it so I could post it at the end...then I forgot! My poor wonderful friend Shana....she slaved over this incredibly cute and yummy cake(it was red velvet!) only for me to not even mention it. UG! No wonder I never get birthday cakes!

Truth be told...The last time I remember getting an actual birthday cake was the year I was in the hospital with Matthew. After that it always seemed overkill to have two cakes in a row. 

This year however, I got two cakes! Both from amazing friends and made with love. 

Thank you Shana! I loved it so much. It was the perfect touch to my perfect day. I am so glad we did not attempt to put that many candles on it...

I kind of wish I would have taken some of it home. It sounds so good right now. 

The best birthday a girl could ever ask for...and then some.

I thought it was enough...

The cards from loved ones..you know the ones...with the handwriting that always makes you happy!

Then there was the super chocolatey cheesecake that Jenny brought over...

It came with it's own personal inscription.. "If McCutcheon's made this...

it's good" Um...yeah! So true. I still have over half of it left. It is so rich and yummy. I am not lying when I say that Jenny is trying to fatten us up so we can't get out of our house. 

Then Shana stopped by bearing gifts for me! Last year she gave me a cut grass candle that saved my life as winter lingered after my birthday...Oh, how I miss that candle! This year it was jewelry and coffee..and a pear bath and body works plug in that rocks!Oh and daffodils! Yeah for a hint of spring!

Then my darling husband started acting very strange....he was mumbling and talking about getting a sitter..dinner reservations...etc...I begged him not to get a sitter as I wanted to be with both my boys on my birthday(don't get me wrong, I love dates with my husband but we were on limited time this year)We decided to go downtown Rochester and take a few photos before dinner.

10 minutes in...about 30 seconds after this picture...Matthew started complaining and whining and saying he did not feel good. I got mad that I fought for him to be there and he was acting like this...(to be continued) 

Mike thought maybe getting Matthew something to eat at Starbucks would help..I was confused because our reservations were in 10 minutes and that did not make any sense..Then we were running late and Mike was okay with it???WHAT? Mike is never ever late???I should have known right then...That should have been my clue...but instead I was just annoyed that he was making me late:-) I guess he has rubbed off on me after all these years. 

There it is! The restaurant we had reservations at! One of the yummiest places to eat in Rochester. See the Chester's sign. 

And then I finally got it! When I stepped up to tell the hostess our name she looked totally confused and Mike softly pushed me out of the way to say "Birthday party under the name Jenny" OH!!! That is what is up... 

Then I rounded the corner and saw a table full of all the women in my current life that I adore and admire and love!

Becky had been in Arizona visiting her mother and had not even been home to say hello yet...

Tears flowed down my face...

I kissed my adorable husband goodbye and thanked him for a wonderful day and sat down to enjoy my last birthday in Rochester...and possibly ever with these wonderful women.

It was perfect....

I love you all very much!

Oh and to continue the Matthew story...he came home with Mike and threw up three times! Mom of the year..yet again. 

Being 9 is divine!

For Matt's party last week Mike and I were fortunate enough to be able to borrow Mark and Jenny's minivan. It was quite an experience for us. Shana was kind enough(hahaha!) to take a photo of Mike driving! Even better..is that she managed to get the Hobby Lobby sign in the picture. Domesticated Mike! Thank you Jenny and Mark! You made our night so much easier.

The party began with a trip to see Rango at the movie theater.  (2 thumbs down btw..hated the movie)

I have to say that taking a picture in a movie theater is a super big challenge. Not to mention that people look at you like you are going to record the movie or something.

Has anyone else heard of Orbeez??? 

Hannah made Matthew a friendship journal with a bunch of pictures of the two of them hanging out. It even made Mike and I a little teary eyed. Then Jenny told me that Hannah started crying when she made it because she realized how much she would miss Matthew...

as a mom..these next two pictures just melt me!

I love seeing Matthew so happy. 

I did make cupcakes..they were good when they were fresh but by the time the party came around..not so much. That is the problem with making cupcakes from scratch, they dry out so quick.

I think Hannah loved being the only girl at the party! 

He...

 Is the sweetest kid you could ever meet. In the car on Wednesday, Hannah asked him what he wanted for his birthday. He softly replied "I don't want anything...I just want you there" 

Is amazingly smart and not just the book kind. His book smarts are followed up with common sense too

Is totally a winter kid...and even he is sick of the snow!!!

has blue eyes and dimples that are a huge soft spot for his mom, and his teachers.

 loves his dogs soo much!

A few days ago Matthew was sitting on the floor with C dog. I thought they looked so cute sitting there. I noticed Matthew was writing but I did not think much of it. Later I found this note....

is 9 today! My baby boy is 9 today. 

Where oh where does the time go? 

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy...