friday foto...Saturday!

As you can see...I am a day late and more than a dollar short for friday foto...it has been that kind of week! Here is a fun carriage ride that we had with my youngest son and his fiancee in St. Augustine. This very sweet couple will be married November 21, 2009 and I could not be any happier!
I am busy cleaning, reading (always reading) and doing yucky paper work!!!
Have a great Saturday and visit Cute Candid Carrie for more friday fotos!

Happy Birthday Ry-Baer

Happy Birthday Ryan!
My Baby...

When you were about 8 or 9 you came to me and said that your older brother had told you that you were not planned! You were upset...

I told you that while you hadn't been planned you were like a surprise birthday party!
That's the truth...
it was like God himself threw me the very best surprise birthday party!
It was like winning the baby lottery!!!
I thought I wouldn't have any more baby moments but I got a bonus round...
You are kind and patient and gentle...just like your Dad...and you are the spittin' image of him!!
Happy 24th...Thank you for always making us so proud!
Love, Mom
For more friday foto visit Cute Candid Carrie

Growing Pains...

As a child I was told that Santa came to my house first on Christmas Eve because we were his favorites...later I realized my parents enjoyed sleeping in on Christmas Day. But...every Christmas Eve my Mom would take us out to look at all the houses decorated for the Holiday and every year when we got home...we would discover we just missed Santa! My Dad would describe in vivid detail what happened, as I got older and older he had less and less details.

This traditional set up worked well for me when I married as My Hubby celebrated Christmas on Christmas Day like the other " red headed step-children" Santa tolerated. This allowed Christmas for "My family" on Christmas Eve as "the Chosen" family, Santa clearly adored!
This continued until 1979 when our first child was born...My Hubby insisted his little family celebrate on Christmas Day...and it meant I could continue to be with my family on Christmas Eve. My Poor Hubby's family has seen us once or twice as they live in Virginia and we just don't travel much during the holidays.

Now...holiday traditions have gotten complicated...for extremely good reasons! All my children are married or very nearly married, as in the last Born's case!
We don't all attend Christmas Eve worship service together anymore as we don't attend the same churches anymore. We don't go looking at the Christmas lights together and then over to my Mom and Dad's although, all the kids do show up at my Mom and Dad's. We do see each other on Christmas morning...although I suspect that will stop soon as Carter and Katie will rightly begin their traditions with their parents. We no longer see movies together on Christmas day because with extended family members we were saving seats for 30! Oh, People do hate that!

It is hard sometimes for Empty Nester's...I know a lot of people are thrilled to be a couple again and we are, too! But, the holidays are the times I literally ache for my children...not so much who they are now...but for their little selves who filled my heart with such joy!
Don't get me wrong...I love my life now...but at Christmas, I do miss the little Baer children and all of our traditions... but they are too big to sit on my lap and read to!

Visit Carrie she has a great give-away involving family traditions!

Also, My Losing Season Contest ...you could win $50 for your favorite charity!

friday foto finish

My baby is engaged!
He has picked the best girl in the world to be his bride!
This may sound cheesy, even velveeta cheesy but we are the luckiest family I know!
We love you Ryan and Lauren!

For more friday fotos visit Candid Carrie!

Enter my contest for LOSERS