A decade of Lynn & Cary

Just returned home from a lovely surprise getaway planned for Cary by yours truly. I've been planning this little getaway for a long time to celebrate 10 years together.

Cary and I met the day AFTER Valentine's Day 1999. I was working at the fine jewelry department of L.S.Ayres (now Macy's) when this very handsome young man walked by. I literally can picture that very second. A few minutes later I noticed him again in the Ralph Lauren section in front of my counter. Uh huh...his head would pop up and glance my way and he would catch me looking. So early-20's of us, isn't it?

Finally, the handsome stranger made his way over and simply asked, "Do you know Chrissy?" Chrissy is a long-time bff of mine and co-worker at the time, she is still very much a part of our lives and will forever be credited for bringing us together...well, Chrissy AND God that is.

I offered to let Cary write Chrissy a note, telling him that she would be working soon and I would be glad to give her a message. He left. I called Chrissy and said, "Who is the hot guy?". Chrissy called Cary-who said, "Who is the hot girl?". Chrissy met us at the mall and officially introduced us. Heck she even made us hug. lol

So not normal for boy-time, but Cary literally called me that evening. We made plans to go out two days later. We never looked back. It has been an amazing journey so far and I can only imagine what the next decade will bring us!

Some of my surprises didn't work out for our big getaway (had to cancel the treasure hunt and we ended up bringing McKinley with us overnight due to Cary's Grandmother being put in the hospital) but it didn't matter, we had so much fun together reminiscing and going to some of Cary's favorite haunts from childhood.

We ate at the famous Pizzeria (as seen in the movie Breaking Away), visited the campus of I.U. and shared a lovely glass of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries in our hotel room - okay, well McKinley did NOT participate in that last bit. He was fast asleep.

The next day we had a lovely lunch at a local Italian restaurant on the square and shortly headed home.

We had a wonderful weekend of celebrating!

Lynn

Below are some fun pictures of McKinley opening his Valentine from Mommy & Daddy.

Opening his Valentines from loved ones from his Valentine Mailbox and his gifts from Mommy & Daddy.

Mommy & Daddy's Valentine

This week we took McKinley to have his 18 month pictures taken. We had a lot of fun with all the props - especially the Valentine stuff. McKinley's favorite part was tasting his very first lollipop!

It's amazing how much McKinley has grown and all the changes he makes on a regular basis. I'm noticing that he is starting to put together words to form statements, even sentences - though we still don't understand everything he's saying, it's cute no less. He loves to feed Mommy and Daddy like we have fed him for so long (which is sweet that he's so darned considerate) He's having so much fun at his second round of Wee Read with friends from last fall and new friends too! And every night, when we announce it's time for his bath, McKinley RUNS to his room where he plucks out a washcloth from a drawer to bring to us and again returns to his room to choose a towel to bring to bathtime. It's a routine he absolutely loves - he squeals with delight the whole time, especially when he's finally in the tub playing and splashing water everywhere. It's too cute!

We're excited to share another Valentine's Day together. This year McKinley will actually be able to open his Valentines (he has quite a few admirers!) and his gifts from Mommy & Daddy. We got him a new button (Hallmark makes GREAT buttons that play music - great for any button pusher), a rainmaker and a new Valentine book. We think he'll be pleased as punch!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!
Lynn

Queen's Ball 2009

It's that time of year again - time for us to dress up like prom! It's Queen's Ball! This year (because I wasn't the chairwoman of the event) we were MUCH less stressed and at ease - even leisurely, it was nice.

We had a great time at dinner with our friends Sara and Jessica, then met up with the whole bunch at the dance. Unfortunately, our prom-like night was cut all-too short due to some unavoidable circumstances with babysitting, but we are so glad we were able to make the annual night. BY FAR, the best part of my night was getting carded for a margarita. HELLO? The bar tender said, 'Hon, I need to see your I.D. please". I squealed, "MEEEEEE???? SURE!!! I'M THIRTY!"

Ahhh - graceful, huh? lol

Good times...

Lynn

A rare abundance of snow

Early last week we got hit with a nice, big snow storm. A wonderful, continuous, gorgeous snowfall that lasted for a very long time and left about 12 or 13 inches of white, packable puffy stuff in its wake. We have not had this much snow in our area for 12 or 13 years. Cary and I were both seniors in high school when we remember it being like this. And it's the GOOD snow too. You know, lasts for a long time, wet, slick, just screaming to be slid on by a bunch of kiddies and those needing to feel like kiddies again. So, Sunday we hit the park in an attempt to introduce our son to the wonderful stuff and to make two 30 year olds feel like 12 year olds again.

The trip was a success. We'd planned on trying earlier in the week, but it was too cold and we were all still so sick with this nasty 'stomach flu'. Anyway, McKinley cried a little bit when we first put him on a sled to pull him around. He wasn't having it, thank you. But when he took that first ride down the hill with his Daddy he giggled the entire time. I'll never forget it! I think Cary and I forgot how much fun it was to go sledding. It was great to just let loose with reckless abandon and send our no-longer-a-teenager bodies down a steep hill at break-neck speeds. Seriously.

We took turns racing up the hill and back down with McKinley, giggling all the while. And McKinley would watch as the other parent came barreling behind each time --- again giggling at the sight of his otherwise controlled, adult parents on their bellies, screaming at the top of their lungs. God, that was fun.

In anticipation of some hesitation from McKinley, we brought along some fun toys to use in the snow in hopes of warming him up to it (shovel, bucket, scoop, dump truck). We didn't need it to fend off a grumpy mood, but we did break it out so that we could all play together. We even built a snow castle!

Today was perfect. It wasn't too cold and unbearable to play, the sun was shining brightly, we were all feeling so much better and the snow had melted just enough to make it super slick so we traveled very far (and very fast!) on the sleds. Besides that, snow play was always a huge deal in my house when I was growing up. To be able to pass that on and to see McKinley begin to enjoy it just as much as I did - and to see Cary and I both reminisce and feel like kids again...well, it was just what the doctor ordered! And don't be fooled by our red cheeks - we didn't stay out too long, that was from exertion! Ha!

Don't ya just love a baby in a snowsuit?

Lynn












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