The girls

I had a lovely time this Saturday getting with my friends from high school. For the last several years we have gotten together about once a year or so, but always kept in touch through emails and blogs. Oh, and when get would get together it would be with our husbands as well. We do love our husbands with us, but plans changed this time and it was just the girls!

Steph and I drove over to Winona Lake, a very cute little town, to meet up with Tiph and Jil. We went to a sushi bar kinda place for lunch. I am not a fan of Asian food, so Tiph and Jil let me pick off their places. :)

We walked around some of the quaint shops, then went over to a coffee shop in town where we chatted until dinner time. When we went over to Haciendas for dinner! We were snapping pictures and getting video like crazy.

I was gone for a total of about 12 hours and it was SO GOOD! It was a really nice time hanging out with the girls.

Visiting a friend

Last weekend was our anniversary (6th!) but the weekend before was when we celebrated. We always like to celebrate by going away somewhere. Even when we were on a student budget in Scotland. The first year was the New College retreat to Carberry Tower. The second year was to Dunkeld (we were SO happy to finally see some fall colours!).

Three years ago for our anniversary trip, we went to Ireland! Well, we were also visiting a friend and looking at universities. This friend was my college roommate. She went to Ireland for an internship, but ended up changing her plans and stayed for a wedding. It happened to be HER wedding.

When we visited they had one lovely daughter, and another on the way. Seriously, on the way! Erin had some kind of food list she had stashed in the freezer and information about her daughter's routine. She informed us that it was for us...JUST INCASE. :)

As we were making our plans to move over to Scotland I was thinking it would be fun if I ever had the opportunity to visit Erin and her family in Ireland. It didn't work out though as we nearly crossed paths flying over the Atlantic! When we decided to move back to the States I was waiting to hear that they were now planning to move back to Ireland. Just kidding!

So, again, for our 6th anniversary we visited Erin and her family. The autumn colours were lovely and it was so nice to get away for a few days. It was fun to meet her 2 youngest daughters. They are all such busy girls! There was never a dull moment. Josh had the pleasure of playing Thomas the Tank Engine all weekend. We also went to the apple orchard and watched the girls bounce around in a bouncy castle and get a pumpkin painted on their hands. The above picture was taken as we were walking out. Sorry, Anthony, I didn't get you in it. But, ya know, you were pushing a stroller and, well, you just didn't fit. :)

Thanks for letting us come over!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my husband!

It's the big 3-oh today.

Thank you for everything you have done for us. I thank God for your wisdom, your patience, your selflessness, your love and commitment, your level head, and of course the fact that you took us to live in another country for 2 years! :)

I love you.

What's in a name?

I'm on a roll with these meme things now. Here is a fun one I got from Steph's blog. I just have a little bit of a hard time with the "favourites" cuz I don't really have too many favourites.


1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Rabbit None or Bunnie Nothing or Chestnut Zero Zippo
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
eek! I don't have any favourites here! Uh, Peppermint No Bake?
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
Dbou
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Purple Rabbit
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, hospital where you were born)
Stephenie St. Mary
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),
Boude (HA! HA!)
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Pink Raspberry Mocha
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Claude Richard
9.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Anne Claude
10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Erny Edinburgh
11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Summer Hydrangea
12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Blueberry Capri
13. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),
Skillet Sugargum
14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),
The Quilting Thunderstorm Tour