Clifton Mill

We went to Clifton Mill on Saturday night with Tim & Brenda. It was something Brad use to do with them when he was a kid so it was fun to go with them and take Dane. It was a really nice day and really pretty but it would have been nice to have alittle snow on the ground and that's saying alot from me, cause I do not like snow!

They have a Santa's workshop there, which was the best part in my opinion. If you peek in the windows, Santa is there working on toys and making a list. Here is Brad & Dane peeking in.

Every half hour Santa climbs up the chimmney, waves and says

"HO HO HO, Merry Christmas!"

Dane was so excited to see Santa. Here's a video of him right after. It might be hard to make out but when I asked him what Santa was doing, he says "Toys" and at the end he says "Merry Christmas"

Fast Friends

Ellen and her husband Kirk came to visit today. They are here visiting from New York for Thanksgiving. Now, Dane has only seen Ellen a total of 2x since he was born, and the last time was when he was maybe 6 months old. I told him early this morning that Ellen was coming and he skipped all over the house saying "Ellen's coming, Ellen's coming!" and when she showed up he wasn't shy with her or Kirk at all. As if he see's them all the time. Funny to me, that that's the same way Ellen and I were together from day one at the age of 4. Instantly drawn to eachother, fast friends. I'm so glad I got to see her. Love ya Ellen!! (you too Kirk)

Here they are reading the book Ellen bought him.

A side note here, the most horrible catastrophe happened today while they were here. My camera isn't working right! No flash, you have to manual hold the flash lens up to get any light!! I busted out the manual after they left, and nothing worked. I think it's broken!! With Dane's birthday coming up and Christmas around the corner it's a bad time to be without a camera.

It's tragic.

Thankful

I really just want to take the time to say how thankful I am. I have a great family, thank you for staying close and always being there when I need you, thank you for making me laugh everyday. I am so proud to say that your my.....mom, dad, grandma, uncle, aunt, sister, brother, cousin, niece, nephew and husband!

I am also so thankful for the opportunity to be a mother. Thank you god for Dane. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm so gratful for the chance to raise him. He's so perfect, so smart and so funny.

I am thankful for my job and my co-workers. A truely great group that I enjoy talking to, laughing, and sharing my life with. I love what I do for a living and I'm thankful I get to do so and that it helps me provide a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food in our bellies.

I am thankful for life, to wake up everyday and get to do it again. I am thankful for every kiss, every hug. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being my friends and family. As you sit across the dinner table today, look around, you have so much to be thankful for. Everyday is a blessing.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Birthday Brad!!

This is a little late in the day, but Happy 29th Birthday to my husband!!

Dane and I love you so much.

New project

It's true. I knew what I was getting into with Brad from the start. He's a 3rd generation need for speed, fixer -uper and tinkerer. What can I say. I can already see those qualities in Dane. I've got my hands full with these boys of mine. God help me!

Here's his newest toy/project. A 1974 Plymouth Scamp

It needs alitte work, but not much. Brad wants to restore the vinyl top, and reupholster the front seat and since I know Brad sooooo well, I am 100% sure that he has plans with the motor that he hasn't told me about. It never ends!

Happy Anniversary

Today is our 8 year Anniversary!

High School sweethearts, we've been "together" for over 11 years now. It's really hard to believe that all that time has gone by. Alot has changed, we've really grown up together and as long as we continue to grow together I think we'll be ok. Brad is a great husband and an incredible father and for those reasons and many more, I love him.

So, Even after all this time........ I still do.

Playdate

Dane and Taylor had a playdate this morning. They are finally really "playing" when we get together. It's pretty cute to watch. We played inside alittle, but decided to move it outside while we waited for our pizza to arrive. The weather was great, 60 degrees and sunny!

Taylor leads Dane to a pine tree

Looking under the tree for bunnies.

More looking

Picking crab apples together

When we got in the car to leave Dane said "Binkin says ga ga goo ga ga." In regard to Taylor's little brother Lincoln who is about 8 weeks old now :)

Hi!

Tim & Brenda stopped by today for lunch and gave us some of the pics Tim had taken on our train trip. Here's a favorite.

Shrimp

I had picked up some shrimp at the grocery store not knowing what I was going to use it for. We hadn't had shrimp in awhile. So I came up with this.....

Shrimp & Portabello mushrooms in a spinach and garlic cream sauce

It turned out really good and Dane ate it up!

Dane's Silhouette

My mom cut an ad out of the Columbus Dispatch last week about a famous silhouette artist named Lena Bengston that was going to be at the Polaris Mall. They were taking calls for 5 minute appointmens on Friday and it so happens that I had that day off. I had always admired the old time silhouette pictures I'd seen and my sister has some of her 3 kids when they were little. So precious!!

Dane Benjamin Grimes

Oct 30th 2009