A New Kinda Bike

Mark finally got a motorcycle.

We have always talked about getting one.

Even before we were married I knew that he wanted one and we would dream about going on long rides across the country on one.

No one likes the idea.

People keep calling me wondering what the heck he is thinking.

I'm not the one who controls that man.

And even if I did I wouldn't stop him from getting one.

I married him knowing that's what he wanted.

Heck I've wanted one too.

Not this kind but still.

I wanted a Harley cruiser type bike.

But we'll get that eventually.

It's been nice for him to have.

He rides it to work and can now go to places without taking the car.

But he loves it so much that he likes to just go on a ride for fun.

I don't love him going out all the time but it's his new toy so I understand that he wants to play with it.

He also got all the protective gear for it.

He can't ride it without his full suit.

He has the helmet, the leather coat, the leather gloves, the canvas pants, and even the boots.

And all those items have tons of hard protective things sewn in.

I'm not too worried about him.

He's used to not being seen while on his road bike so he knows how to be an overly defensive driver.

He's also taken a course to help give him lots of new tips.

He knows that he has to be incredibly careful.

I worry about the other drivers on the road but I've had to put that worry aside when he goes on his road bike rides.

He's happy with it and that's all I could ask for.

Well almost all.

I kinda wish it was a different color but then I remind myself that yellow is pretty visible so I guess it's fine.

Don't Even Think About It

My sister, Anne gave Scott Natalie Ann's old chair way back when we lived in the village.

Scott liked it but he prefurred to cuddle with mom or sit on the floor and play with toys.

Not Dean.

Dean loves this chair.

He will yell and push you off if you sit in it.

He picks it up and moves it around the room to where he wants.

He's even just started using it as a stool to get onto the couch.

Scott gets bugged at times but for the most part he doesn't care.

I think it's adorable.

New Furniture

We got new furniture.

I'm completely in love.

I've been wanting front room furniture in here since we moved in the first time.

James let us use his for a bit and I loved it but it wasn't mine.

I never picked it out.

Mark and I were given a lot of really nice furniture pieces when we got married as gifts and I am so grateful but I never picked them out.

But these, Mark and I went furniture shopping around and we talked about what we both wanted.

Mark was a sweetheart and let me get whatever I wanted.

Obviously if he really couldn't stand it he would have said so but he really just wanted me to be happy.

He knew and stressed to me that we weren't going to be getting new couches every few years so whatever we got would have to be what I really wanted and wouldn't get sick of quick.

I already knew this but I'm glad he knew that to get what would last a long time, functionally and aesthetically, would cost money.

Well he found out that when I am free to get what I want I don't get the most expensive thing, I don't get the most flamboyant thing, and I don't get the most feminine things.

I like things to be some what neutral so that when I do want a change I can simply change the pillows and decor.

I think these are similar to the ones he would pick out too if he were left to get what he wanted.

They were a great price too and came with tables and lamps even.

I do not like the pillows and I will be sewing some new ones up real quick.

Also, way back in the village we picked up a chair by the dumpster.

I wanted it so I could redo it.

Mark liked it cause it was close enough to the couch we had and we could just use it for a few years and give it away.

He really did NOT want me to redo it.

He didn't want to sink money into something that wasn't worth it.

I knew that if I put a little money into it I could make it look like a million bucks.

Ok obviously not a million but I could make it look like we spent a lot more money into it then we really would.

And so I waited till I knew what I wanted.

I waited a long time cause I could never pinpoint a style.

But I finally figured it out about a year ago.

Then I had to wait for the fabric to go on sale at the same time that I could use a coupon, it's the best way to buy the expensive home dec fabric.

When I finally got it a few months ago we had started talking about moving so I decided to put it off till we moved.

After we moved in I knew we were going to get furniture and I really wanted it to be ready when we got it so I could just love my room.

Well I do love my room and I love my chair.

It's my statement piece.

Here's the before and after.

LOVE LOVE LOVE how it turned out.

 And here is our room arranged.

Scott added his own decor by adding a shark.

I suppose it'll do till I get the right pillows I want in there.

And after that we shall paint.

I love being able to make this house the beautiful home I've always dreamed it could be.

Quick visit

Kels came to town for a quick visit and we went to Melissa's to hang out.

I love these girls.

And I adore their children.

I missed the baby round with Brayden and Brock but we all jumped back on board with these three.

I really want a daughter but I love that I get to be there and see these two grow up.

If I never have a daughter then I will be adopting them and spoiling them rotten.

And another good thing is that my boys are going to know how to act around girls.

They will respect girls and treat them right.

I wont let Jaeley, Keni, Lezi, and Poppy get pushed around but my boys.

I love these three to bits and pieces.

Go Jazz

Mark got free jazz tickets from work.

Saweeet!

So we met him at Energy Solutions Arena.

Scott has been to an Aggies game before and so he was familiar with the noise and crowd.

Dean had not but he was fine, sorta.

He just loves to move and really can't sit for long.

we had lots of snacks that I snuck in and that helped.

We ended up leaving before the game was over since we didn't want to keep the kids out too far past their bed times and make everyone around us suffer through our cranky children.

It was still a lot of fun to get out of the house and take a free adventure out to the city.

Scott had a lot of fun cheering and clapping with the crowd.

Good times.

Date Night

I love when Mark and I get to go out.

He's so much fun on dates.

I feel so young with him.

Like we're still in our twenties.

We talk and make so many plans and dream about the future.

Less then half of what we say will probably come about, especially in the time frame that we want but it's still so fun to speculate.

For Christmas, Mark's brother, James gave us a gift card to Brio.

I love James gifts, because they also include baby sitting.

AWESOME!!!!!

It was wonderful.

I got to order whatever I wanted.

We just hung out, no pressure for anything.

It was the kinda date that makes you just want to breath deep and relax.

I need more of those.

Which means I need more gift cards.

Dean is the 1

 Oh hey, just this cute boys first birthday is all.

I can hardly believe it's been a year.

He's still so young.

Isn't he?

But when I think about being in the hospital with him it feels like a life time ago.

This baby is so special to me.

Just like with Scott I prayed for him long before he was in my belly.

He can bring a smile to my face when I'm mad or sad or tired.

He has such a sweet personality.

He started walking a week ago.

What?

WALKING?!

He's just so persistent.

He doesn't know that he's younger then Scott and thinks he can do whatever we're doing.

Scott loves his little brother.

He waits for Dean to wake up every morning and when he is awake he greets him every morning as soon as he can.

He has to go with me to tell him good night with each nap and wish him sweet dreams.

And he has to go with me to get him out of his crib after he wakes up.

He feels like its part of his job of being a brother.

He loves when I ask him to look out for Dean too although he has a hard time keeping him out of trouble cause Dean is intent on doing the wrong thing.

Dean wants to explore his world so badly.

I swear he has suicidal tendencies.

Now that he walks he thinks he should walk on the stairs too.

It's hard to keep him away from the stairs.

He just wants to practice going up and down them all the time.

And so he falls a lot.

There is always a bump on his head.

Right when one is finally fading he bangs again.

No winning with this kid.

He has totally stopped cuddling with me.

It breaks my heart.

But he loves and I mean LOVES his grandparents.

I sometimes wonder if he loves my mom more then me.

But he adores my dad and treats him like they are best buds.

My parents didn't have to do any bribing or tickling to get him to like them.

He's just decided that they are his people and he trusts them to make him happy.

Mark's parents and no different.

I was amazed that he just goes right up to them and hugs them.

He doesn't see them very often at all but again, he knows that they are his people.

He doesn't respond that way to anyone else.

Scott was very much a people person and would forget about me unless he was hurt.

Dean holds onto me when we go out in the public.

Not a trusting person.

But oh how we love him.

He is so sweet and loving.

Scott would smile so easily but did makes you work for it and you want to.

You want to do what ever it takes to get it because it is such a cute smile. 

We had a small get together with family and the Smith's who did a great job spoiling him.

I'm pretty sure Scott will try to adopt all the gifts since he never seems to grow out of any toy.

But that's fine because Dean plays with all of Scott's.

Happy Birthday Deano Burrito.

We love you so so much.