Unconditional Love

Some things I have been thinking about a lot lately.......

Unconditional love........can it be learned, or must we be its recipient to truly understand what it is?

Definition from Wikipedia:

Unconditional love is a term that means to love someone regardless of one's actions or beliefs. It is a concept comparable to true love, a term which is more frequently used to describe love between lovers. By contrast, unconditional love is frequently used to describe love between family members, comrades in arms and between others in highly committed relationships. It has also been used in a Christian context to describe God's love for humankind through the forgiveness of Christ.

I have written and deleted what I have wanted to say over 10 times tonight. I can't exactly put my thoughts down into words, so I'll just end with this thought:

"Family love is messy, clinging, and of an annoying and repetitive pattern, like bad wallpaper." Friedrich Nietzche

Halloween 2009

Well...Halloween's over and I really don't have have a lot to report. Kenlee got to help make a haunted house at her daycare which she got really excited about. We didn't have a ton of trick-or-treaters which left us with a giant bowl of candy. Kenlee only lasted about 30 minutes of actual trick-or-treating before she decided she was done. I told her that she didn't have very much candy and she said, "We have a lot at home, I'll just eat that". So, that's about it. I didn't get a picture of her in costume and I didn't get a picture of the pumpkins after they were carved, this is all I got.......

I win the prize for the worst mother for the month of October!

New Addition!!

We adopted a new kitty to our family a week ago today! She's just a little squirt and so full of energy! Her name is Sarah....which is also our neighbor and good friend's name....she is allergic to cats and doesn't really like them. So, we though this might soften her heart a little. We also thought it was pretty funny!

Meeting Sam for the first time...they took a while to warm up to each other
already climbing on the furniture

Kenlee LOVES her!

They are getting along great now....they even play together a little bit

My Picky Eater

What is up with this??

My daughter is one picky eater! She won't eat the normal things that kids like......macaroni & cheese, pizza, peanut butter & jelly...etc. Instead, she would prefer (as pictured above) linguini & clams!! She is a seafood lover, just like her father. They will eat all sorts of clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops and whatever else is on the menu. Her favorite is Dungeness Crab (which is delicious) from Joe's Crab Shack! That's my crazy kid!

hAPPY bIRTHDAY jUSTIN !!

Today Justin turns 34!!!! It's hard to believe that I have known him since he was 17 years old. Time has flown by! I have literally "grown up" with this man. In a lot of ways he's changed since then and in some ways he hasn't and never will, which is why I love him!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Here he is at the gun range...we love to target practice!

Justin and Kenlee at the state capital

Good Advice

Today while google searching..."old geezer" (don't ask), I came upon a blog that I found very entertaining: nobodycareswhatthisoldgeezerthinks.blogspot.com
I guess it might be boring to some people, not me. She even has 2 ingredient recipes that sound really yummy! Anyway, I found her entry for her 38th Wedding Anniversary...here is her advice for a long happy marriage:

1. Never, ever, ever threaten divorce.
2. Never stomp out of an argument - give yourselves 1 hour to cool off, then try again to work it out (and don't think YOU have to always win).
3. No yelling and screaming - he's in the room. He can hear you. Calm down.
4. Treat him the way you want him to treat you.
5. Mark his calendar for important dates (like birthdays or any other time you expect a gift) so he's less likely to forget. If he still forgets, buy yourself a gift and give him a big kiss thanking him for it.

I want him to be happy, he wants me to be happy. It's as simple as that.

I think its great advice! Just a little FYI!

The Elk Hunt 2009

Justin got to go on the Elk Hunt this year with his Grandpa. They took their motorhome up in the mountains and parked it for a week or so. Kenlee and I went up for a day and then headed home...that was enough for us. Here are some pics....


Trying to stay warm


Kenlee and Sandy tending to the fire....Kenlee LOVED the fire (she's a little fire bug like her daddy)


Grandpa, Kenlee, Justin and Sandy hanging out by the fire


The elk that was almost Justin's....he was waiting to see the antlers before he took a shot and then Rob (grandpa's friend) got him from another angle...DANG!!