Tony and Madeline

Here is a happy Uncle Tony holding little Miss Madeline. She cuddled right up to him! They were both asleep within minutes. At least we know they share that hobby in common :)

Welcome to Earth, Madeline!

Congratulations to Bethany and David and Gigi on the new addition to their family! Poor Tony still hasn't been able to see the new little one because of his work schedule, but I've been lucky enough to snuggle her quite a bit. She is adorable.

Happy Birthday, My Valentine!

Tony's cake - the first cake I ever made him. Isn't it a masterpiece?

Today is my darling husband's birthday!! He is my funny valentine and I adore him. We had a small birthday brunch in Tony's honor this morning. David brought Gigi and Minnie (my mom). Bethany is not feeling well as she was due yesterday and still no sign of the baby coming. Poor thing. The sister missionaries came as well and gave us a great lesson before we ate. I served a great fruit salad (heavy on berries as Tony loves them), sausage hash browns for Tony, and delicious Breakfast Quiche for everyone that actually eats eggs. Afterwards, we opened Tony's presents and then David studied while Angelique took a nap. Minnie and Tony and I watched an old movie. It was such a fun day.

Tony after successfully blowing out his candles - with Gigi's help

Tony has been spouting a lot of Henny Youngman jokes lately, but even with his own material he keeps me laughing and smiling. Tony always knows just what to say at the right time, and he says it in a way that I know he truly cares about me.

Tony and Gigi with one of his presents from Minnie. Gigi sings one mean Happy Birthday!

Tony - this last year I've seen you working so hard for our family, for our home, and for our future. Your efforts inspire me every day to work harder and reach higher. I've seen you focusing even more on your faith and deepening your prayers and supplications to Heavenly Father. You've adjusted so well to having in-laws, and having your home invaded by many Mormons on a regular basis!

Tony and Minnie with another of her presents.

Thank you for supporting me in everything I do. You agree wholeheartedly with a resounding "yes" before I even get through explaining why I have to do what I have to do. You are such a wonderful person! I could not ask for a better friend, sweetheart, or man to have in my life every beautiful day. I love living with you and getting to know you more every day. You keep on surprising me (in a good way) as I discover more and more facets to you. I'm so proud of you as you meet challenges head-on, especially when I feel like running and hiding instead.

David and Gigi - thanks for coming and spending the day, guys!

Tony, you are such a giving person. I know your tendencies are to love and give and love and give until you had no more inside or in the bank. I'm glad that we are a great team, working and building together! I finally seem to be understanding that you "get" me. That someone out there knows ME - what I like and dislike, what I've done in my life and what I want to do. You can predict my emotions and behavior with sometimes embarrassing accuracy, and I love it! I love that I know YOU! I know how to predict your behavior and emotions, I know what you like and dislike, and I know your history and your dreams. I love knowing you this way, and it just makes me love and admire you all the more. I hope you had a fantastic birthday, and here's to many, many more! I love you.

What Have I Done?

(Another post I never posted... enjoy!)

This is a meme I saw on Mendy's blog and I thought it was a fun post. The things in red are things I have done, and the black are things I just haven't gotten around to yet! I had to annotate some of them, just for posterity's sake.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does a string quartet count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a Praying Mantis

10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (it's always possible...)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 3

5. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (just to the base)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in movie
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (I did touch a piece of the Great Wall of China at Expo 86 though)
57. Started a business (I don't think it counts if your only client is your mom...)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (I've tried multiple times... never works out. First I kept going back to Romania (which disqualifies you due to HIV) and then my veins are too small for their mammoth needles)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (Tony says I've saved his, but he's a bit biased)
90. Sat on a jury (just in my own mind. ha ha!)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Talked your way out of a ticket