i like things the way they are. Period.

I like my life right now.

I like where it's at. right. now.

I love Mr.FF.  I love his kids.  I haven't wanted to make someone happy like I want to make him happy. 

I'm good. 

I'm great.

I'M HAPPY...

Just the way we are now.

Period.

thankyouverymuch.

It's all about the Anniversaries, yo.

Remember this one???   40 years of wedded bliss celebration groovy style???

Well this past weekend I was taking pictures at a 26th year anniversary renewal of vows ceremony.

It was a beautiful thing.



As the now married for 26 year bride stood outside in the hall waiting for her entrance I walked out to her.  She was shaking, nervous and overwhelmed by the show of love in the room awaiting her.  It was beautiful, she was beautiful.  In that very moment that I was envious.

I want that. 

I want to sit back and say 26 years later, "Yes!  I still do!"

Monday I came to work and read this blog entry from Pink Kisses.com.

Specifically these two paragraphs (copied and pasted here)

Here’s the dirty little secret I want to whisper in your ear today. It’s okay be a romantic. It’s okay to admit that you want to spend your life with someone. It’s okay to want to get married & to dream about creating a family. It’s okay to believe in love & happy endings. In fact, it’s more than okay. It’s a wonderful thing.

The key? Finding a man who will want you to be strong, independent, opinionated and fabulous all on your own, but who you can also depend on for support. Finding a man who doesn’t tell you what you should or shouldn’t do, say or wear, but loves your idiosyncrasies and laughs with you when you make mistakes. 

I love all of that...maybe I'm just in the sweet week before "the bitch" arrives all a flutter due to the vows ceremony...or due to all the wedding photos I've been looking at for research purposes. I don't know, someday, though, I hope to look back at where I've been...and then look over at the man that's been there along by my side through it all.

Can you handle it, MR.FF?  :P

I knew it'd be Emily.

Bachelor news...as if it is news at all.  I knew it would be Emily....however, I was sad to hear on the "after the rose" show how many problems they've had since the taping. 

Although I TOTALLY get it.  Shit.  Mr.FF and I aren't on a reality show where he is kissing and making out with 25 other woman and I have insecurity issues.  So, Emily, I get it.  I can't imagine how difficult it's been watching.

They had three of the successful couples from Bachelor/Bachelorette shows come on to give the couple advice.  One thing that they offered was to remember, no matter what is going on outside they are in a bubble and it's important to remember it's just them.  Nothing else matters, but what they have together.

It struck me.

One also said, there is a yacht, where their love started and it's wonderful, but after the show they are thrown on a boat...and they have to travel over rough waters to get to the paradise island.

I'm on that little boat.  In the rough waters, SCREAMING for reassurance...I feel like at any time my own issues will tip me over into the waters (or push him overboard) and I won't be able to recover. 

My head jumps in at this point and tells me I will recover and I will make it to the island, but what if I get there and he's not with me?

I could get all indignant here and go with the "his loss" or "if he can't handle me at my worse then he doesn't deserve me at my best"...but those don't help how lost and hurt I will be if he doesn't come through the rough waters with me.

I will just take the advice of Dory from Nemo.  Just keep swimmin.

Meh.

Jeez, back to reality TV.  I really hope that Brad and Emily make it happen...and work things out.  I think they make a great couple. :)

New Years Resolutions....seriously.

Hey there, it's me again...and it's about to be ME again....cause I've been slacking on this blogging front, I'm hoping to change that...because you know why?

Because I like to blog...it's my journal that I can never seem to keep in a real life book. 

I have several journals at home...maybe one page is written on...the rest...an empty book.  We all know that this brain of mine...is far from empty...oh no...there are many issues to this brain of mine.

One of the reasons I've enjoyed blogging so much is because I've used it as a form of therapy...You all are my Psychologist (sorry I don't pay my bill)...and though you don't have to diagnose me...or give me your opinion or thoughts...but just knowing you're there, listening, er reading....HELPS.

Case in point.

Syd, thank you.  You nailed it on the head...and for some reason I couldn't say it myself.  I can joke about feelings, I can make fun, I can justify them away...but the core, the CORE of the issue is TRUST.

Hello...Captain Obvious...(me, not you Syd)

DUH. Yes. Absolutely...I do not trust.  I can justify it all the way til the next new years....like, why would I trust when all those I should trust have let me down?  Really though...what does my worrying or mistrust do?  What would my worrying or distrust do if he WERE being unfaithful?

Nada.

I have no control over his actions.  No different than the others in my life that have let me down.

What I have control over is my own actions...therefore for this NEW YEAR...I want to let go of the notion that others have hurt me so why wouldn't he....I want to enjoy what the two of us have, RIGHT NOW...and I want to STOP trying to find reasons that it is not a loyal loving relationship. 

*deep breath*

Yes, just typing those causes a panic attack...but snooping in his cell phone isn't going to STOP him if he did choose to be unloyal, unfaithful or whatever else he could do to hurt me.  

Stalking his facebook or whining about his relationship status isn't going to keep him faithful.  Furthermore...his status SAYING "in a relationship" wouldn't stop him if he did want to hurt me.

So I'm going to try to "throw my hands up in the air....say EH-OH gotta let go.  I wanna celebrate and live my life, sayin eh-oh, baby let's go."
(click that last link if you tube is still being wonky)

*special note to Mr.FF...your patience with me is commendable...and in no way does this post mean I'm going to be successful at this resolution...so continue with that patience, mmmk?....I am sure it will all be worth it.

Giddy school Girl

I've been so hesitant to talk about this for fear that it will be jinxed.

Part of me has a very hard time talking about joy in my life.  I'm good to make fun of the bad, but when it comes to the GOOD, and I really mean GOOD...then I freeze.

I feel scared that if I mutter the words then it will all go to shits.

You guys...THIS IS GOOD. 

This relationship is really good. 



I never thought that I could have such a connection with someone of the opposite sex.  I never thought I could be myself and be accepted fully.  I've never been involved with someone like him.  Ever.

This past weekend we were on a hike with Bubba's cub scout den.  There was a time that I was just being me, enjoying being outside, taking tons of pictures like I love to do, making jokes and just being me.  I looked behind me and he was there...I had this overwhelming feeling of "ahhhh".  THIS is what it's like to be myself with someone, THIS is what it feels like to be WITH someone.

I don't know if I am making any sense right now and truth be told, I don't know if I have the words to truely express this feeling.  Maybe bullet points will help:

-he gets me
-he supports me
-he laughs at me and with me
-he loves in the same way I love
-he is active in his children's life (nothing sexier than that...nothing)
-he is generous
-he is goofy
-he is kind

How I feel:
-content
-loved
-relaxed
-wanted
-like being myself is the only way I can be around him.

I am enjoying him more than I could have ever imagined. 

I am over the moon with joy that he and I are on the same active level with our children. 

I am in disbelief that I have found someone I have the "it" factor with, I am not on the outside looking in anymore at other couples.  I am not looking with envy at what others have and finding it hard to believe that their "it" is real.  I can't tell you if THEIR it is real, but this "it" (my "it") is...and it's GREAT.

I just reread this entry back in July...and it's all still very true.  Actually...all the blogs I've gone back and read...still ring true...sure we've only been dating *mumbles number of months* but they all still ring true.

I found a keeper.

MUSHY ALERT.

The radio station I listed to was discussing these the other day...thought it might make for a good blog.

Here is where to find it online...
10 of the 15 signs that you're meant to be together.

1. You tell him things you don't tell anyone else. We don't mean blurting something out after you've had too much Merlot, but the desire to tell him intimate details about your life means you trust him—a major component of successful long-term love.

I am pretty much an open book, but eerily, Mr.FF reads me better than anyone.  Mr.FF reads me as if I've been a book on his shelf for as long as I have been one on my best friend Kimmy's shelf.

Kimmy knows me.  Kimmy knows how my brain works.  Kimmy gets me.
Mr.FF hasn't been close to me for as long, but KNOWS me, KNOWS how my brain works (which is scary), he gets me. 

So I am not sure I tell him things I wouldn't tell anyone else, but when I am stuffing emotions, justifying and dismissing feelings, he knows.  Nine times out of ten, just him knowing comforts me to share with him.  Ten times out of ten, I feel so much better after sharing those feelings no matter how juvenile or silly they are in my head.

2. You let him see you in moments of weakness. It's easy to be happy with someone when you're feeling good about life. But what about when you're not doing so well? Do you want to see him when you've been denied a raise, or your cat died or you had a plain old bad day? He should be a comfort during tough times, not a burden.

Weakness.  Why is it so important for me to be strong all the time?  Why is it so important for me to spew my unicorns and rainbows all over every situation?  Cause I do.  I am a very positive person.  When I break, I break for such short periods of time.  I pick myself up and eat a sack of happy. 

Letting Mr.FF in on my down times has been a little difficult for me, but completely unavoidable as stated above.  He just knows.

There are times that both of us have had to say, "give me some time" and let that space settle between us.  Time for (in my case) the internal dialogue to settle so as to better talk it out loud with him.

3. You respect him. You don't want to change the essence of who he is. There may be stuff that irritates you in everyday life—he insists on wearing his favorites, holey T-shirt, he eats sugar cereal for dinner, he still watches Saturday morning cartoons—but you like him, plain and simple.

This is incredible to me.  Before Mr.FF and I even started dating, my respect for him as a person, as a father to his children and as a friend was pretty high.

To say, I really like him, sounds so cliche yet so true. 

One of the obstacles that I saw when we talked about dating, when we made that leap is the risk of losing him as a friend, as a support, as someone that I trust and do respect if the whole romantic part of the relationship failed.

So far so good.  I still respect him and still really like him as a person and more importantly as his OWN person.

4. You want him to meet your parents. You feel proud of him and you want to show him off—as opposed to feeling like you have to make excuses for him.

I have been excited for all of my friends and family to meet Mr.FF...even if they've met him before (we did go to HS together and shared mutual friends).

I am more excited for those that I love to see how he and I just "work" together.  I am excited to show off this happiness that I feel has been lacking in my life for a very long time.

5. You can imagine a future together. You don't have to practice writing your first name with his last name, but do you periodically let your mind wander to picture a life together? Is it amazing?

HAHAHA.  This one makes me laugh.  Remembering back in my high school days, doodling my name with the last name of whoever I was dating at the time.

Those dreams of future were so immature.  Those dreams were so fairytale driven, with no base to them other than a long yearning to be loved and to love.

Right now I am so in love with what the kids and I have, on our own.  Right now I am so in love with what Mr.FF and I have together, but in separate households.  I don't foresee any change in that situation for a long time and I am completely content with that.

That is NOT to say that sure the idea has crossed my mind, but more in the "holy shit we'd need a bigger house" kind of way.  Ideally, or maybe it is more dreamily, we will make that move or that advancement in our relationship...when we're empty nesters.

*cheers to the elder years*

I think about our future as old people together.  I can see that.  I don't know if I've seen that or have chosen to forget about those visions with other relationships, but I can see it with MR.FF.

6. You're not afraid to disagree with him. You know that even if you fight, he'll listen to you and won't brush you off. He takes you seriously, even when he thinks you're wrong.

This has been a difficult concept for me to grasp...that brick wall that I hit my head on for so long with Capt'n Cancel has caused some brain damage. 

I am getting better, I think, about expressing my opinions without fear.  It only gets easier the more I do release my thoughts and have Mr.FF so respectful of my opinion even if he doesn't agree with it.  He's teaching me to be more relaxed by his actions.

7. You want to work out your major differences. If you do have crucial differences that will impact your future together—different opinions about religion, money or something else—you want to work them out with him, and you believe you can come to a conclusion that will satisfy both of you.

Maybe it's too early in the relationship, but I don't see any major differences.

*smoke pours out of ears*

Nope.  I don't see any major differences...unless he drastically changes his feelings about having another child...then we will have a problem.

No more babies.  Not with me

.

8. You laugh together. Laughter is one of life's simplest pleasures—you should definitely be able to crack each other up.

Given. This is something we have absolutely NO problem with at all. 

9. You're incredibly, utterly, surprisingly attracted to him. Physical chemistry is an undeniably important ingredient in a healthy relationship. And if he's not your usual "type"? Even more reason to think he's the one.

The "surprisingly" bothers me...not sure why.  However, when Mr.FF came back into my life, all I could picture was the boy he was in school...and he was just a boy.  He had a baby face...and he was so very little, barely 100 lbs wet.  I never gave him a second look back in school.  (Sorry babe.)

When we did see each other again, I immediately recognized him but thought, "Hmmm he's grown up nicely" and "He looks like a man now instead of a boy."  It caused enough for me to pause and give him a second look.

It is truly what I am attracted to most...tell me if this is odd...or not...and he will probably kill me for this but...SUCK IT UP IT IS WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT YOU.... I love the wrinkles around his eyes when he smiles, I love the receding hair line, I love the grey hair mixed with the red, I love the way he's aged.  I love that despite that "aged" part of him, he has the same boyish humor, boyish charm, and his smile and eyes have not changed but glow with happiness and love.

10. It's OK to be quiet around him. You don't feel like you have to fill the space between you with chatter or other interaction. Instead, you feel an easy comfort.

The other day we were sitting on the steps outside my house.  Talking, talking, talking.

I thought in that very minute, do we ever have quiet time between us?  Do we have that quiet time but it's comfortable enough that it doesn't stick out in my head?  This is so very nice.

*****

So there you, I don't know what any of that really means...if it means we are meant to be or not...BUT, I can confirm...that I am happy.  We will take each day at a time and *I* will cherish whatever time we do have together because me and him?  Him and I?  We are good together.

wordless wednesday...sick daughter...heading home...

It's gotta feel good.

I really can't imagine being with the same person for 40 years.

I haven't been able to make it past 3 years marriage and I've been married twice!

I bet that it's gotta feel good to look over at a person you've been with for 40 years. You know each other, you've been there for each other, you're safe with each other.

I was talking with a friend yesterday. She asked how my Mom was doing, on her own in Arizona. I answered her honestly, my Mom is a little lost.

After 25 years of being with the same person, having that safe feeling even if she wasn't happy in the marriage, it was comfort, it was home. Without that now, she's a little lost. My friend said, she couldn't imagine. She'd rather continually get to know her husband, continually grow with her husband through good and bad than to be alone. "Even if it seems we are going to kill each other along the way, I wouldn't want to do life by myself, without him."

I thought it was interesting and makes a "single" girl think.

Forty years of being a team, forty years of continually growing together and relearning things about each other as your lives change. Loving the other person while they grow, while you grow, through good and bad.

I envy that. I get all warm and fuzzy thinking about how that must feel, that safeness, that comfort, that one person that knows you fully, and still loves you. It's gotta feel good.



Others joke, "We don't know how you've put up with each other for that many years."

Mutual respect for each other makes the "putting up with each other" worth it. To grow with love and patience.

Wishing them another 40 years of marriage, it's quite obvious the humor they have in their love.



Sometimes we all need to lighten up, life is short, it should be full of laughs and good times. Those are the times that shine bright during the darker times.



The children will learn by example, how to love, how to respect others, how to have fun and what love looks like.

It's a testament to a job well done when your children are grown, throwing your party, celebrating the years you've dedicated to each other and to raising them.






Often times I find myself watching other couples, watching how they interact with each other, watching how they give each other little signs of love.



There is laughter.



There is affection.



There is love.



"Love from one side hurts, but love from two sides heals." -William Shakespeare



Congrats on 40 years!!

Why are you still here? That's the end of the post.
Move along.
Oh, right? A picture of us. :)
Here you go. We were pretty groovy, no?

*shew* BUSY

So our weekend alone was busy. LOL.


Friday night, we put the finishing touches on a birthday cake Mr.F was making for his cousin's daughter's first birthday.



I was up with him til about 5 am and then I HAD to get some sleep, he came to bed around 6:30. Then we were up by 7:30 am to go to his son's baseball game. After the game we went back, did some more finishing touches and then off to the party.

I thought I'd fall over with exhaustion. That didn't happen til around midnight on Saturday night. Sunday we slept in til 10:30am and didn't do much all day long.

It was a good weekend, but busy...

This coming weekend is the 40th anniversary party, plus Bubba has a t-ball game, pictures for t-ball and football sign ups. Sunday I am partaking in a fitness-athon for a friend's children who were diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.

Busy busy.

Mr.F said the other day that BOTH of his son's want to play football, plus my Bubba...and I'm no fortune teller, but I am predicting much more busy weekends for us to come.

*what?*

Yes, it is our lives. They are good lives, just busy ones.

Let's party like it's 1970!

Shhh, it's a surprise...

Mr.F's parents have been married for 40 years.

HOLY SHIT.

Oh, shhhhh.

40 years, that's a long time. I can't imagine a marriage over four years let alone a 40 year marriage.

I mean really. WOW. Think about that. I'll give you a minute.

*shivers*

Anyway. When occasions like this come along, you must celebrate. You must.

Celebrate we shall, FORTY (FOR THE LOVE PETE) YEARS.

As any loving girlfriend would, I got right on some party planning outfit shopping.

The theme of the party is 1970; therefore the attire shall match the theme no?

I was really surprised that the fashion in 1970 really wasn't THAT different than our fashion now.



Right? I'd totally wear that NOW...minus the shoes...

I found this one....(CLICK THIS LINK TO SEE IT ON ETSY)



This is not something I'd wear to the party (sorry to disappoint Mr.F)...but it made me giggle so here ya go. (Click here to purchase "sunny days" for yourself)



Is this a moo-moo?



Here are the top three contenders...

This one is pretty inexpensive and I think would fit the bill...

So this is option NUMBER THREE.
(Click here to see on Etsy)




I think this one is adorable in that 1970 kind of way. This is option NUMBER TWO.



Lastly...and selfishly, I am not linking this one because I don't want you to outbid me on Ebay. *Evil eyes*



So if I don't win this auction on Ebay I will decide between number 2 *giggle* and number 3.

Also, a woman never forgets the SHOES, right? Today I found $109.00 boots on CLEARANCE for $16.99.

Shut your mouth. I know, right?

(Total side note, I tried searching for the boots, I bought them at the Bass Store, they aren't on the website, but it's the web address that has me giggling like that thirteen six year old boy again. www. B A S S S H O E S dot com. Bass Hoes. roflmao. *ahem*)

It's so fun to plan shop for parties.

A "children's" circus.

Two kids get in free with one adult purchased ticket.

That was my Friday night.

WIN!
(???)

The free tickets were everywhere we went, at the local breakfast stop, at the gas station, they gave them out at school.

Dammit.

"Mom, can we PLEASE go to the circus?"

"Yeah, PLLLEEEAAASSSEEE?"

I tried, like hell, to come up with a reason to not go.

FAIL.

Off we went, tickets in hand. I twisted Mr.F's arm to go too, even his sick dog couldn't keep him away. ;)

We take our seats, the lights dim announcing the start of the show.

First act, lions, tigers and the FABULOUS Miss Colleen.

A girl lion tamer. A scantily clad girl lion tamer.

I'm all for equal rights...on with the show.

As I'm applauding Miss Colleen and her "feline friends" *giggle* Mr.F leans over and whispers, "Sure wish I was a Lion right about now."

*blink*

Oh, Mr.F, if you want to hear "roaring", if you want a scantily clad woman to whip you, THEN YOU'RE JUST AS KINKY AS I THOUGHT.

*meow Mr.F meeeoooww*

There were girls that hung from ropes one was a little seven year old girl.

Awe. That's cute.

Jugglers come out.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please help me welcome, *child's name* nine years old, and *other child's name* at thirteen years old, along with *quite possibly eighteen year old's name*"

More kids, I thought. Hmmm.

They juggled well. They dropped a few and even lit some on fire (those were dropped too, the crowd gasped) they weren't bad, ya know, for kids.

Except, all of the acts were kids. Oh there was one, where the nine year old introduced is DAD and his amazing dog act.

(Dog, not doggie, it was a children's circus. pervs.)

In between acts there was a lot of announcing by the ringmaster about the "reasonably priced" souvenirs.

They brought some audience members in to do a hula hoop contest. Good times. The prize for participation was a little American flag and the winner received a blown up balloon. Blown up. With air. Not helium.

What kind of low budget circus is this? I wondered.

"Now ladies and gentleman, children, we will be taking a brief intermission. Please do not forget about our reasonably priced souvenirs. Get your snow cones, cotton candy...take a ride on our very own circus elephants..." ETC ETC ETC.

Mr.F leans over and sputters, "an intermission???"

"Apparently CHILD LABOR LAWS require them to take an intermission." I crinkled my face at him.

Not even a few minutes later, I see a man walking up the bleachers to his family...and behind him is a BOY carrying eight snow cones. The boy was, for the love of hard working children, one of the jugglers.

I kid you not. I look over to the snow cone booth and low and behold, more children...the same children that had acts in the circus. One little girl was STILL IN COSTUME.

What in the hell? I start looking around, trying to get an estimate of how many "paying" adults might have been there and wondered how much are these kids getting paid if at all?

The were elephant rides at $5.00 per child and $7.00 per adult. The woman taking the money, you guessed it, another circus performer.

The ringmaster was down on the floor selling whips. I didn't catch the price on those; Mr.F and I guess about $5.00 per whip.

(No we didn't get one, but Mr.F did notice it was MOSTLY grown men down there purchasing those whips. HELLO.)

The lights dim again and the show goes on...it's basically the same story, same kids, amateur acts, on and on.

As the circus ended, Mr.F says (in his best announcer voice) "FOR ONE DOLLAR, you can use the doors to exit."

The circus was performed mostly by children, there was a lot of pushing to purchase souvenirs as if their life depended on it (and it probably did) and I left feeling dirty and not in a good dirty kind of way.

"Those have to be the hardest working children I've ever seen. Kids, let this be a lesson when you start whining about how much you have to do. I will send you to their circus, don't tempt me."

"Ha, there weren't even any clowns." Mr.F said.



"You all were there." I said pointing to everyone but myself. ;)

*budumdum shish*

Next year we WILL have other plans when this circus comes to town again, unless Bubba is still acting up, then I will ship him off to be the pooper scooper or lion's food clown.

Meh Meh Meh Monday

I've got nothing.

I started a blog for today twice...only to delete it all, tap my finger on my forehead and start again.

It's just really been a lazy Monday.

I wish I was vegging out at home.

Meh.

Weekend...was good.

Mr.F...is awesome.

Kids...are fine.

That about sums up life right now...and THAT, my friends, isn't a bad thing.

Less than 5 minutes away long distance relationship...

Could that title BE any longer?

(twss)

A few weeks ago Mr.FF asked me if I had ever been in a long distance relationship.

"HELL no!" I quickly replied.

Truth is, now that I think about it. Yes. Yes I was.

My freshman year of college, I went off still dating my first love and boyfriend from high school. I was a few hours away at college and he was here attending college.

I don't consider that, though, a substantial "long distance relationship" for many reasons. The number one reason, it was college yo. It was party time, Holmes. Needless to say, he and I both moved on and broke off that "long distance relationship."

I don't even remember how long it lasted after I had moved to school.

(It might have lasted a few beers in, just sayin)

Regardless, my initial response to any long distance relationship is HELLZ TO THE NO.

After the panic settled and it was confirmed that he wasn't moving away...I wondered why he would ask.

"When in a long distance relationship," he started, "little things matter the most. Like the phone calls at night, the text, the extra effort that one puts into any amount of time to get together."

Confused I just mumbled out a "MMMK? You're point?"

"When you feel like you aren't giving me enough, know that you are. We may not see each other as often as we like, but you always call, you always send cute little text, and when you can you make spare moments to see me."

(That might be paraphrased a little, but you get the gist.)

((If you aren't getting the gist...let me help...um, he thinks I'm awesome. You're welcome.))

Anyway...this weekend we were both suppose to NOT have kids, Capt'n Cancel's typical work schedule has him working on Friday nights. So I have my kids til tomorrow afternoon. Mr.FF's ex has a "work conference" in Indy...so he has his kids all weekend.

It feels like it's been forever since we've had alone time, but that is the way it goes. I couldn't imagine anyone other than the two of us understanding each other's situations any better...not only are we a match, but I'm thinking our Exes are too.

*kicks dirt*

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, not matter what you do, I am sure we will too.

Paybacks....semi-wordless Wednesday

Paybacks are kinda like revenge aren't they?

Mr.FF giggled his cute little ass off posting pictures of me while I was away on vacation. He had so much fun, didn't he?

Go see.
Here and HERE and let's not forget THIS ONE.

He's a funny funny man, isn't he?

There's a thing about posting old pictures of me that he did forget about though.

I am the one with the camera NOW...so even if he has "stuff" on me (oh whoa) from days long gone...long long long gone. I have "stuff" on him NOW *meow*...

Oh yes, this was taken while I did a family shoot for his sister MARCH 27TH 2010...



HEY, Mr.FF...BRING IT.
;)


PS. click on my photo blog to see a few "clean" pictures from that day. See the icon? Upper right corner...go...go see.

Master Baker

Mr.FF makes cakes.

I think he likes to, but nonetheless, he makes them.

He makes them for friends, but also, for the son and dad cake baking extravaganza for his sons' cub scouts.

This year marks the 100 years of scouting, therefore the theme was obviously, 100 years of scouting. Duh.

His plan was to make a cub scout wearing on one half the uniform from 1910 and the other half to wear the uniform the boys wear now.

I giggled supported his BIG idea. I was very skeptical curious to see how he'd pull it off.

This past weekend he went to town on the cake. Not having my kids, I eagerly sat and watched helped.

He's impressive, no?



So is Mr.FF.

I was so busy watching helping that I didn't get many pictures of "the making of" that little cub scout, but here is the end result, minutes before it had to be RUSHED to the cub scout meeting.





This cake was baked Thursday night, worked on Friday night, worked on the good part of Saturday (until I made him quit and take me to dinner and the comedy club) and then worked on right up until it had to be presented on Sunday.

The perfectionist in him would say that it still needed tweaking, however, being the perfectionist that *I* am, I know that had he had anymore time he still wouldn't have been 100% happy with it.

Besides, I think that cake looked pretty damn awesome as it was!

Let me also add, that it tasted mighty fine.




That Mr.FF is quite the Master Baker.

Back on course...ish

All "Brady's" survived the trip.

My kids and his kids got along very well. Which really was no surprise. I'd say the only time things with the kids were iffy is when they were tuckered out.

The wrestling tournament didn't go so well for his kids, but hopefully something was learned and they can take the matches as experience under their belts for the next year.


Three cheering on the other...

The only problem with the trip was me.

I created problems where there didn't need to be any.

Self sabotage? Quite possible.

PMS? Maybe a little.

No matter the issue, it was only a minor bump in the road for this relationship. Not an impassable bump, just a knock ya off kilter a little bump. Easily maneuvered back on track.

If I could get my brain and heart on the same page I think things would be a lot easier.

If anyone has some help on getting those two on the course, I'd love to hear it.

Brady's less two.

When I got divorced for the second time, I thought about the qualifications that I wanted in my next partner.

One thing that I was unsure about was if I wanted to date someone with kids.

On one hand, I thought it very important to find someone that DID have kids, because nobody understands the time that goes into parenting better than someone who puts in the time.

On the other hand, I thought about someone who DIDN'T have kids, cause if I wanted to be spontaneous I would be able to and so would he.

I would go back and forth with the pros and cons of both scenarios.

I have to say, I am very thankful that Mr. Fantastic has kids. It actually is one of the things I like about him; his kids are awesome and I admire his dedication to his children.

I hate saying he's a great father, cause if you are a FATHER then why be less than great? However, due to the experiences I've had with "fathers", Mr. F...IS a GREAT DAD.

I hate patting those that are DOING THEIR JOBS on the back like Buggy's Dad, but I admire those that step up and do their jobs with pleasure.

Anyway, Mr. Fantastic is a father, to two equally fantastic boys. LilB and LilrB. This weekend their Fantastic Family has invited us, Supermom Family, to join them on a road trip to state competition for wrestling.

Mr. F, SuperMom, and FOUR KIDS...are gonna all load up in my SuperMom mobile and head south.

*shakes head*

It baffles me that something I wasn't expected is now laying in my lap, laughing at me, pointing it's little fingers at me, devilishly screaming "you saw your life HOW???" Muahahaha.

I am nervous when it's all of us together. Him with just me and my kids, fine. Me with him and his kids, no problem. Combine all six of us, add in overnight stays, all weekend together and it makes me nervous...I don't know why.

I think I just want to be Marsha? Please?

*flips long blonde hair*

Introducing....*drum roll*

"Friend" amazes me everyday.

Some of the suggestions from you guys on nicknames were HYSTERICAL.

He got the biggest laugh out of Lissa's suggestion, The Big Horn.
LMFAO...*honk honk*

Vicki @ Frugal Mom Knows Best suggested a site that gives lover pet names.

That site's suggestion was "Sweetums Red-hot-Lovey Cakes" funny thing is he LIKES baking cakes, like Cake Boss or Ace of Cakes.

Did I ever show you the cake he MADE for Bubba's birthday???




A long time ago, I had put an endearing name on his facebook. It made me laugh...it was a mix between Jackass and Sweatheart.

Jacktart. Buahahah, it still makes me laugh.

The word has also morphed into Jacktard.

*giggle*

Did you hear that the "cast" of Jersey Shore are trademarking their names? So I guess Jwoww is out...and Snooki...dammit all to hell, "The Situation" is out too. What is a girl to do...so many FABULOUS nicknames, trademarked.

*kicks dirt*

The damn Jacksons have taken Jermajesty and Blanket...

*raises fist in air*

But I think I've decided on a name...

*drum roll*

Introducing...to you, my lovely readers...



Mr. (Friggin) Fantastic

(variations, M.FF, Mr.F, and best of all, MINE)

((who better get use to cheesin it up for the camera.))



(He has the best friggin dimples EVER)

Generic? Yes.
Perfect? Absolutely.
Cheesy? You betcha..and it's just like I like it.

(twss)