Happy 35 Years

Bryan I wanted to let you know just how wonderful you have been over the last 35 years!

Thank you for making me laugh. Wiping away the tears when I'm sad. Holding me when something upsets me. My strength when I just can't go any more. Your support when I make decisions. For being there when I have been sick and/or surgeries I have had to go through. The adventurers we have had. You pushing me when it need a nudge. Making me laugh! Yes, I said it twice because you know I do believe that might be our little secret to our long marriage.

Thank you for being the Ashes to my Petunia. Santa Claus to my Mrs. Claus. Poppy to my T-ma. Dad to my mom. Thank you for being my husband!

Thank you for not only keeping me safe, warm & protecting me but for the love you have given & shown all these years.

Not long ago you brought up that even though The Jarvis FunHouse has been dubbed as our home in the last 5-6 years, you stated that it was est. on November 26, 1975. You are so right! When I hear the Jarvis FunHouse I think of all the laughter & love that it has meant to me & of course the first thing that comes to mind is YOU! What a perfect name for our home.

So I wanted to let you know how much I love you! I'm looking forward to the next 35 years of adventures with you.

Love you!

Tressia

M & M Cookies

This is the time a year that traditions & memories seem to fill the air. The time that we all gather together with all our family & friends. As with many of you we have do have a couple of traditions. M & M & No Bake Cookies.Yes we have had Rice Krispies bars, haystacks, cakes but nothing seems to be more of a tradition at Thanksgiving as M&M & No Bake Cookies. Well with the lifestyle change & thinking maybe others are getting tired of the M&M & No Bake Cookies I have entertained the thought of not doing them any more. To me this would be hard to do. Then I start thinking of all the memories that have come because of 2 little letters. M&M
When I was 8 years old my mom presented me with a recipe book. One of the first recipes I baked was one called Colored Cookies. The few times I was able to make them I liked it. Why? Was it because it was the first cookie I ever baked? My daddy smiling when he had his first bite?
Bryan & I were married on November 26, 1975. During the first couple of weeks of our marriage I was telling him about these cookies I made as a chIld. He in turn was telling me about a cookies his mom made that he called Dog Food Cookies (No Bake Cookies) we decided to bake some Colored cookies since I had my little recipe book. What fun we had making them & eating them.
I usually try to stay home the day before Thanksgiving to get everything ready for the wonderful day. One year I went into Jennifer's room to ask her what time she needed to be at work, & she told me, I took the day off so we could do our traditional baking together. REALLY?!?! I always enjoyed our time baking. Munching on the M&Ms while putting a few more on the cookies. Talking. Eating the right out of the oven cookie. I was not sure she enjoyed it as much as I did. Well I received my answer that day.
I have a niece that loves my cookies. One year she was not able to come to Thanksgiving or was it Christmas? Anyway, I wanted to let her know how much I loved her so with the help of her sister & mom I sent her a tin of cookies. I loved doing it because even though she was miles away we were still sharing the holidays. I try to be sure she leaves after Thanksgiving that she has a bag of cookies to go.
There was a time that Bryan & his partner in crime, I mean friend/co-worker worked from the house. I loved baking the cookies & taking them a sample cookie from each batch as they came out of the oven. I think they enjoyed it. I know I loved the critics comment, Mmmmmm
Amy & her family stopping in for a moment to drop off Boy Scout Fund raisers to go on to Mike's family thanksgiving then come back & have left over Thanksgiving. When they came in they always asked where the M&M & No Bake cookies were. Hey it was a long trip & they needed something to keep them going.
Jennifer went to London 4 years ago. This was one year I had to work the day before Thanksgiving. What a night. I needed to talk with Jenn about some pretty important things, but had no way of getting her. She finally called me to see how the baking was going & say she that even though she was glad to be in London she missed baking cookies with me. We were able to get everything handled & worked out. Thankfully I had the cookies keeping me busy. Yes, I saved her some cookies so when she got back. :)
3 years ago while Jenn & I was baking, Cary called. Jenn said she would need to leave for a few minutes if that was OK. Of course I understood, I knew what the errand was before she told me...they went to get their marriage license.
Well this year we had a great time with the cookies. Jennifer on one side of the counter & me on the other. Cary running after Brylee & handling supper for us. Bryan making it in from his business trip just in time to eat with us & sample the cookies. This year was special not because we had all of us gathered but it helped me to make a decision. Brylee did get to sample the cookies. She loved eating them with her Poppy/B-pa. When I finally was able to get my hands on her for a minute, she started signing & looking in the direction of the cookies. She was signing eat & more. I went over & broke off a piece of cookie & gave it to her & handed the rest to her Poppy/B-pa. Yep that is what she wanted.
Remember me mentioning at the beginning of entertaining the idea of retiring the cookies? Well the decision has been made..........M&M cookies stay! As long as God will allow me to bake cookies for the moments like this I will.
I know what the M's stand for on the candies. Do you??? Moments & Memories
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY BRYLEE

Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Girl!
There is so much to tell you about your first year. The list would go on & on & on.

From the first time we saw you in the nurse's arms going down the hall & getting to ride with you in the elevator to the nursery to have you checked out. Now you are a beautiful little toddler. The smiles & expressions you have. The curiosity you show. And so, so much more.

We feel so blessed to have you as a BIG part of our lives. You have turned our world upside down. We can not wait to see what the next year will bring.

We love you sweet girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

TMA & BPA/Poppy

How did you Spend your Extra Hour?

How did you spend your extra hour?

Well, I was awakened by another Hot Flash! I looked at the clock & it was about 3:40. Of course then my brain started waking up wondering if it was 3:40 AM Daylight Savings Time or Standard Time. You see we have a new clock & it is suppose to change the time automatically! SWEET! Well until I was sure of what time it was I had to get up and check the time. Well now my body is completely awake & I had to get started. (I would have tossed & turned & then Bryan would not have gotten any rest.)

This is what I did with my extra hour(s):

Got on Facebook & remained everyone to change the batteries in their smoke/Co2 alarms if they have not done it this year. Be sure to test once a month.
Ran 6-7 errands.
Did one Geo Caching. This one was FUN!
Put out Thanksgiving Decorations.
Found a Brylee Bottle from last weekend so that took some cleaning.
Since Brylee had a cold I took & cleaned everything in her bed & wiped it down really good. (Yes, she is sharing her cold with me.)
Re-arranged the front porch decorations.
Had to water all the outdoor pots by carrying out water from the inside of the house to the yard. I could not get to the outside faucet due to repairs being done on the house. (That blog to come soon)
Watered the indoor plants.
Spot cleaned the couch & the carpets.
Wrapped a few Christmas Gifts.
Picked up the yard a little from all the work being done on the house, so it could be mowed.
Took a nap. (remember I had been going since 3:40AM)

Now don't get me wrong I also had to do my normal weekend chores. You know the ones; washing, ironing, sweeping, vacuuming, cat litter boxes, etc. Read the newspaper. Made a couple of phone calls.

So as you can see my brain wondering what time was it, gave me more than 1 hour, it gave me what? 3-4 extra hours to do things around the house. Believe me this is not all I did but I did not want to bore you too much!!!

So how did you spend your extra hour???

Mileena

Before I tell you of the visit with sweet Mileena I wanted to brag on my nephew & niece, Jeremy & Monica. After years of trying for a small blessing they have a beautiful little one, Mileena,a MIRACLE BABY! Monica had to go on complete bed rest for 50 plus days to keep Mileena safe until she would be strong enough enter this world. Thankfully Jeremy & Monica understood what they had to do for this little blessing. Monica's Baby Shower was even held at the hospital. It took a lot of planning but the shower was wonderful! If I remember there were 3 or 4 shifts of guest that weekend to shower Monica with gifts & love. The room was decorated in butterflies & so many gifts. Very well planned.


Well Jennifer, Cary, Brylee & I finally were able to go & visit this sweet little angel. We took dad out to lunch before he went to work so we could see him. Mom followed us over to Jeremy & Monica so she could see how big Mileena had gotten. Of course as soon as I could get my hands on Mileena I had her. I heard Brylee in the background crying but knew her mom & dad had her so I did not pay too much attention. Well I looked up to check on Brylee & realizes she was not real happy that her TMA was holding another baby! I gave Mileena another couple of squeezes & gave her to her great grandmother (mom), & took Brylee. While looking & admiring Mileena I realize that Brylee was no longer a baby, she was now a crawler/toddler.



Monica was so sweet, she got out a few toys for Brylee to play with. We had a wonderful time visiting.




Monica put Mileena into an Halloween shirt & we took a few pictures of Brylee & Mileena. This is Mileena 1st holiday & Brylee's last 1st holiday. We tried to take pictures of Brylee kissing Mileena. It is a little blurry but you get the picture.

I enjoyed visiting with everyone & seeing Mileena. I hope to get a chance to do it again soon.

Congratulations Monica & Jeremy! Welcome Mileena! Love, hugs & kisses to all!!