Heart, Love & Manta Rays

We found a little black sand beach one evening. 

We were on our way to a big beach resort, 

the Sheraton Resort to have dinner and watch the Manta Rays.

It was Perfect for our last night on the island!

After dark the sea side restaurant shines bright lights in the ocean waves attracting plankton and 

HUGE manta rays come and graciously feast. 

None of my pictures or videos could do justice to their beautifully rhythmic dance.

4 of them came tonight.

A group of young buys and girls braved the rocky shore and dove in to swim with them! 

Oh how I wished I had my snorkel gear with us in the car...

I probably would have dove in too...

"Your Only Chore is Being a Mom!"

The day Mike and I got home from Aruba, 
as we were cleaning up and setteling back home.

Amelie to moi:

You give chores to everyone! 

Except for you! 

Moi:

Really? I've been doing stuff all day long!
Unpacking, sorting, putting away, laundry...

Amelie:

"Your only chore is being a mom!"

"You even give chores to the dog sometimes!

i'm suprised you give your own HUSBEND chores!

You dont let him do ANYTHING until hes done!"

Moi Thinks:

Like I do nothing!!!

I wish I had only one chore to do and I could give chores to the dog!

I know that this little turd girl will someday be big and know how much
that 'one chore of being a mom' really entails...

Moi to Amelie on that someday when she knows:

How many chores does a mom give to herself?
How many chores are added by other people?

How much does a mother sacrifice and give of herself?
Not in perfect ways. Often laking.
Falling short so many times...
Striving. Trying.
From sun up to way past sundown.
Day in and day out.
Digging deeper for strength within and often needing and calling on Divine strentgh.
Strugling to meet everyones needs.
Never giving up on the fruit of her loins.
All because of that love and bond she felt, that one day, a child was born from her body.

One day, you, the little girl, you too will know:
How many chores a mom realy carries and gives to herself?
Precious little girl of mine,
tel me again about the
'only chore of being a mom?'

With all my Love
MOM

Declutering - Part 2

What joy to the heart when we came across a stack of old love notes, 

and letters of shared life together; 

Courtship. 

New love. 

Promises of Forever

Father/mother's day cards from our kids.

Correspondences during my trips to France. 

(well, mostly my letters)

All Remembered

All Loved

It does wonders for time tried & tested couple love.

But still growing, deepening, learning,  surely changing...

Made for a great Date Night!

Well worth the clean up!

Mike scored big in the 'Love Language' bucket! 

     Chipotle  Bowls     *     Downtown the Woodlands     *     Red Mango Desert Shared

Amelie's Thoughts for Alexi

MY BROTHER

My brother Alexi, he is very sweet. 

Do you want to know something about him when he was young? 

Okay, one time he was eating chips with my dad, 

and he shoved chips in my dads mouth over and over again. 

Alexi thought it was funny so he put even more in his mouth before he could even chew. 

I’m very sad though, 

because he is in Ohio right now and I never get to see him since we moved. 

You see we used to live there two years ago, but when we moved he didn’t come. 

WHY?? 

Because he has a girlfriend named Hevena.  

So my family and I are sad that he didn’t come. 

We ALL miss him very much.

*****

Amelie's Shenanigans and Sweetness

Today we had the Missionaries from our church over for dinner.

I totally forgot I had sign them up!

But they reminded me at church.

 I had to come up with dinner real fast.

I pulled out from the freezer some cooked ground beef,

and made Taco soup.

We had chips, sour cream, and cheddar cheese for toppings.

I made a salad with this delicious Dressing and blue cheese.

It made for a great dinner that fed everyone.

Amelie was so annoying tonight!

She stole the Edlers name tags.

 She broke a glass while jumping on her dad.

She infected the air with some really nasty and inappropriate flatulence's!

While making sure to do her best to annoy everyone around her.

I had to send her to her bedroom after she threw some little toy that hit my head!

Anyhow, she made it all up with these sweet letters later on in the evening.

To Moi, Mike and Chloe.

*****

My Dog Chloe

My dog Chloe is a very nice dog.

She is very loving, kind, cute, and funny.

Sometimes she's loud, annoying,  gross, and mean but I lover her anyway.

She can be very fun when I get home from school.

 She begs for me to play with her when I get home from school.

I mean how could u say no to that face!

 So we would go on the trampoline, and she brings her toy.

And guess what she just jumps right on it by her self!

 My favorite part about Chloe... At night she's so sweet

 I get to cuddle her and she stars to fall asleep, she's so adorable.

I'm so grateful that i have her today.

 I will never forget that day when we got her.

I was so happy, and excited.

*****

PS

The only time Chloe is mean to Amelie, 

is when Amelie crushes and sqeezes her too much. 

Chloe will growl at her, but never hurt her.

Amelie's Note to Mom

******
My mom

My mom is wonderful. 

She is always there for me. 

Sometimes she can be mean like ground me, 

but i know she dose that for a reason. 

She just wants to be a good mom. 

My Mom can be very funny. 

Don't tell this to anyone but sometimes she makes me 
laugh so hard I fall to the ground, and I can't catch my breath. 

She can be awesome when she gets me clothes or pays for things I do. 

So I just wanted to point out that I'm grateful that I have her today. 

Because its quite important to have a mom. 

WHY?? 

Because she feeds you, 
gets you dressed for the day, 

packs your lunch, 
and gives you hugs and kisses.

******
Ps 
Amelie has been dressing herself for some time now...
 And making her own lunch this year!

Amelie's Letter to Dad

*****
MY Dad 

My dad is very fun. 

Sure we have some up and 

downs but we still love each other. 

My dad and I try to go on lots 

of daddy daughter dates whenever we can. 

We love to go see movies together 

we try to go every Saturday. 

We get popcorn, slushies’, and snacks. 

Whenever I go to bed when I was little 

he would tell me funny stories or stories 

about my childhood. 

I always remember the saying my dad 

always before school: 

remember who you are. 

I know that my dad will be very sad 

when I leave because he always tells me: 

Amelie don’t grow up.

*****

Pre Happy Valentines

Thought I would send Mike a little love email at work today :)

Sandrine Nakata wrote: On Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 10:21 AM,

Mike replied:

Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: <3
cool fonts, your welcome, I love you too! Hopefully coming home soon! 


Me Thought:
Wow! Isn't he the romantic one... "cool fonts"??? LOL

21 Years of Marriage

Note to the Tooth Fairy

Love Letter found in our MailBox

The envelope front and back

Dear Mom and Daddy,

I hope your But is Feeling Better.
and Dad I hope your leg Feel's Better.

I hope you Had a Great day.

So I was wondering if I could Get a Iphone?

I can call you when I get lost.
I could call my Friend without useing your phone.

and when we go on vacation and we forgot to tern the lights off.
i can tern them off with my Iphone.

Oh and the Best part is I can text people! and put music on it!

love,

Amelie

(yes, she just turned 8!)


Cher Maman et Papa.
J'espere que tes fesses vont mieux. 
Et Papa j'espere que ta jambe va mieux.
J'espere que vous avez paser eu une bonne journee.
Donc, je me demandais si je pouvais avoir un Iphone?
Je peux vous appelerer quand je suis perdue.
Je peux appeler mes amis sans utiliser votre telephone.
Et quand on va en vacance et qu'on a oublier d'eteidre les lumieres.
Je peux les eteindre avec mon Iphone.
Oh et le mieu, c'est que je peux text les gens! 
Et metre de la music dessu!
Love,
Amelie
(oui, elle vien d'avoire 8 ans!)