Happy anniversary to my one true love

We have been married for nine calendar years and eight actual 'in person' ones. That first year kind slipped through the net. There were some pesky oceans and immigration departments on two continents conspiring to keep us apart. It was a heck of a long distance romance to be sure. 

I gave up a lot to move here to be with Joe; being close to family and friends, my career, my beautiful hometown. But what I got in return was so much more. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I am right where I need to be, with the man I need to be with,
living the happy life we have made together. 

I know it can be tough to make a marriage work. People struggle everyday and sometimes they don't make it. I am so blessed to be married to someone who has my back, even on my not-so-great days. Our downs are few, our ups are many. Thank you, God. (And Bruce, and Judi, and William) for this life, this life and then the next... 

Here's a little visual history of our journey so far.

That is one crazy cake. It's a 'croquembouche', which is French for 'crunch in the mouth'. It's profiteroles filled with fresh cream and drizzled with caramel toffee. Traditionally the bride and groom hit it with a dainty mallet to crack the toffee then guests help themselves to pieces. Unfortunately, this one had heavy duty toffee and the wait staff at the venue had to take to it with a sledgehammer out back in the kitchen in order to break it. I still wonder what it tasted like...  And, what exactly is that weird blue spot in the middle of this pic?

Raffy was my birthday present a couple of months after I arrived in the States. Here we are with him at the mall. Why do we have a dog at the mall? It was pet day with Santa. Man, my hair is long. 

In Sydney visiting family, a few months before baby made us three. 

Back home with William definitely on the way. Mind you, there was still time to drive 500 miles to North Carolina to see Bruce a week before he was born. Against doctor's advice? Whatever! Would have served Bruce right if he had to pause to deliver a baby mid-show. It's all his fault anyway.

William arrives, and all is not well! Our poor sick little baby. Still eternally grateful to the neonatal intensive care team at Frederick Memorial for the great care they took of us all during our extended stay.  

But as you can see, everything turned out just fine!

Remind me how we got to Martinsburg again? 

We are a little sleep deprived right about now. 

And I think that went on for some several years or more. Oh wait, that's right. It's still going on. 

At the beach. 

In the snow. 

Last Easter at Judi's house in Michigan.

Last Summer back home in Australia. We're too cool for colors. 

My red-headed men.  

Spring time

Most blossoms I've ever had on my weeping cherry tree. It was my mother's day gift in 2007.

William, August 2011

I realize I exhibit a slight parental bias here but my child is seriously beautiful. Just sayin'...

I love my dog. But.

It's not that I'm actively looking for a replacement for my dog. I'm just doing a little occasional research ahead of time. Window shopping, if you will. It's good to keep abreast of your dog options. Unfortunately Thankfully though, I believe poodles have a tendency to live for a Very Long Time indeed. So, by my calculations, I have another 8 or more years (God help me) to go before I can trade up sadly turn my thoughts to getting another pet.

Don't get me wrong. I love my dog. What's not to love about a neurotic, yapping, jealous, kid biting poodle? Oh, he LOOKS sweet enough. But he is plotting revenge for a wrong that was wrought upon him six years ago when William was born. He's never gotten over it. If you can imagine a 14lb poodle holding a grudge for all that time, that would be our dog.  

We have considered getting rid of finding a new home for Raffy at various times. It's not nice to live in an environment where your dog could turn feral on your child at any minute, but William will not hear of it. He loves the dog despite the fact that the dog clearly loathes him. He won't tolerate being petted by William. He growls if William walks into a room, especially if he's sitting with me or Joe. William has never done anything rotten to Raffy. Never pulled a tail. Never dragged him by an ear. Never kicked him. Even when Raffy has helped himself to a small chunk of this child, the child continues to defend him. I think we've always been very careful to make sure the dog is included, and not neglected as a member of our family. But still, William is less than dirt to him. What to do? 

Raffy, in happier times, unaware that a change was gonna come.
Pic taken approx. one month before William was born. See how happy he looks. 

OK. What manner of creature is THIS? William, about 10 days old. Raffy, seriously, p'd off
at this rude turn of events.  

He's always there in the shadows. Watching, waiting. 

Still there. Biding his time. Like a stealth bomber. 

You think you're safe in that thing kid? Don't bet on it. 

One false move kiddo. No one will blame me. I'm too cute. 

Oh sure, I'll accept goldfish handouts. And then nip off your finger.

This will make a cute picture, kid. They'll say 'oh look, they're just like brothers...' And no one will
 know the truth but you and me. 

What our next dog will look like...

This is a chocolate Australian labradoodle. They retain some features of our current model (no shedding) but hopefully come without the attitude. Just look at those sweet eyes...

Sundays with William

William and I went exploring yesterday afternoon along the C&O Canal in Williamsport. Before we hit the towpath, William scaled hundreds of feet up a sheer cliff face. OK, technically it was just a somewhat steep hill. I reluctantly followed him up and tore my achilles in the process so I think I earned the right to call it a sheer cliff face of Andean proportions if I jolly well want to. In any case, when he got to the top, as I was still struggling to gain a foothold many hundreds of feet below, he screamed out, 'MOMMY, there are DEAD PEOPLE up here!' 

And yes, there were. He was absolutely right. 

Here are some pictures of our Sunday afternoon adventure. 

Words of William - an occasional Q&A with my 6 year old

Q: What would you do if you were the President of the United States?
A: I would go to the White House, go swimming and then go bowling. I would invite you and Daddy into the Situation Room if 'something happened'.

Q: If you ruled the world, what would you do first?
A: Make Tin Tin come to life.

Q: What kind of pet would you like to have?
A buffalo and a pet Cobra.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: A champion wrestler.

Q: What do you love to eat?
A: Rubbish.

Q: What is Vegemite? 
A: It's made of mashed up vegies by Australian shoppers.

Q: How do pictures get onto a TV screen?
A: A director puts them there.

Q: What do you think Heaven is like?
A: Gold floors, angels and lots of dead people.

Q: What do you think the tooth fairy does with all those teeth?
A: She takes them back to her house in the sky.

Q: Why did God send you to Mommy and Daddy?
A: Because Miss Jessica already had Emma.

Vegemite. Treasured by Aussies for eons. Despite what Americans think, this stuff is delicious and life would not be worth living without it. Spread it on toast, bread, on crackers with cheese, make a soup stock with it, eat it straight off a spoon. Does not resemble roofing tar at all. Is not made from 'mashed up vegies' as my son seems to believe. It is in fact, a yeast extract and one of the world's richest food sources of Vitamin B. The two Aussies in our house go through it like crazy. We start eating it as babies. We don't really go home to visit family. We go home to come back with a new haul, such as the one pictured above.  

Bruce on Jimmy Fallon last night

I just love his stupid face to the moon and back. That's Bruce's stupid face. Not Jimmy Fallon's.

Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen: Sexy And I Know It (3/2/12)