I like putting thought into the meals.

I like researching recipes and ingredients online to perfect the meal.

I like buying the groceries and looking for the deals.

I like the chopping, simmering, sautéing & sometimes baking.

I like my hungry husband devouring it before I have time to take a bite.

This is what we are having for dinner this week: (This is more for me than you, so I can remember.)

MON. - EVERY MAN FOR HIS SELF. I had scrambled eggs and waffles, because I had a staff meeting, so Alex worked late.

TUES.-  Baked tilapia with salsa, roasted new potatoes and zucchini. (This is usually our Monday meal. It’s fast, healthy and delicious!)

WED.- Healthy chicken alfredo with broccoli, mushrooms & sundried tomatoes.

THU. Leftovers with a favorite spinach salad with strawberries.

FRI. Crockpot beef stew and cinnamon baked apples

Last week the favorite meal was BBQ pulled chicken in the crockpot. It turned out SO delicious. I boiled some water and threw in some fresh green beans and ears of corn.

There is a children’s book called Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman.

It is the cutest Halloween book. EVER.

But the piece de resistance, the cherry on top is the NARRATED version of this story.

Which is impossible to find. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. TO FIND.

I first heard the narrated version 4 years ago and have been searching the internet diligently looking for this version. Knowing it’s an older book I gave up finding it on CD and began searching for it on tape with the hope of converting it to CD someday.

I’ve mentioned it before to Alex.

Tonight I was killing time, surfing the web and once again, on a whim, began searching for Big Pumpkin on audio. I found a youtube version of a class acting it out, but alas, nothing…

Except that my husband, the greatest, sweetest, thoughtful-est, man on earth,  got out of his chair and walked back into the living room with a HARDCOVER version of Big Pumpkin…

I was bouncing up and down in my seat, because I had my very own copy of Big Pumpkin and it wasn’t just paperback…

Which I thought was sweet and comical, because he knows me so well!

Then, with a smile and small shrug, he says “Why don’t you open it?”

The bouncing increases.

My smile increases.

I’m literally 4 years old and I’m being given the pony on my christmas list.

I know. I can feel the CD through the cover, but I don’t believe it. I’ve searched 4 years. There is NO WAY he found and bought the audio version ON CD.

I open the book.

There is Big Pumpkin , narrated by John McDonough, ON CD.

ON.

C.D.

Now what happens next becomes a bit blurry, but I think I shriek,

I ramble and stumble over questions,

I may have stood up on the couch,

I’m pretty positive a ran through the house and tackled my husband…

Alex Anderson, you amaze me!

Also, if you can fix this, please help me.

I let Will, my nephew, express his artistic ability.

 If you are over the age of 18,

or you don’t have children in your life,

then let me tell you about Silly Bands.

They are bracelets.

They come in various, VARIOUS shapes.

You can trade them.

They are rubbery. Like jelly bracelets. Which seems very 80’s to me, but the kids love ‘em!

When you take them off, they reshape.

My first experience with Silly Bands was neither silly nor pleasant.

A child in my class wore 6 silly Bands to school. Under permission of HER MOTHER she began passing them out to the 21 children in Purple Door.

No, you did not do the math wrong. 6 Silly Bands. 21 children.

Did I mention that Silly Bands are THE THING. Kids become wild eyed and crazy over these bracelets. They are a hot commodity. There were children fighting, hitting, ripping them off of wrists, stealing and sitting in corners crying over Silly Bands. They are like crack for kids and my little dealer had a supply vs. demand problem.

For the rest of the day EVERYONE (even my dealer, who had the realization that she gave her Silly Bands away) were crying over Silly Bands. I tried explaining the silly part, but kids these days, didn’t find the humor.

So, that’s when I started hating Silly Bands.

 If you wear a Silly Band in my class, YOU DO NOT TRADE IT. If your Silly Band comes off your wrist, it becomes MY Silly Band.

I may have found a lucrative business…

and engaged on,

last weekend was a full, tiring one, but so FUN!

Friday night Alex and I adventured to Movie on the Promenade. We brought a blanket and watched Raiders of the Lost Ark. Towards the end the wind blew down half the screen,  it was funny watching a group of guys try to stand the screen back up. The movie continued on regardless AND the whole night was free!

Saturday we drove to Tampa to our first ever SCI- FI convention.

Yeah, you heard me.

I, Emily Marion, attended a SCIENCE FICTION convention. I like sci- fi, but I was never a big enough fan to attend a convention.

Until now.

Alex was really excited about it and Christopher Lloyd was going to be there, so I was all in. I will admit it was a lot of fun. We saw lots of sad people with too much time on their hands all dressed up. The actual DeLorean was there!!!! Christopher Lloyd looked great for 72 and was funny and charming. At some point I became extremely hungry and started shutting down. Alex promptly observed this and I ate the best Teriyaki cheese burger with grilled pineapple.

Yeah, I’m scouring the “interweb” looking for the recipe.

We headed from Tampa to Lake Wales. Bok Tower was having “Concert Under the Stars” and we bought tickets last minute. The Imperial Symphony Orchestra played… something… Alex would know…

You were suppose to bring a picnic dinner but my burger and fries were long gone. (May have something to do with my jeans fitting slightly tighter lately.) It was beautiful & next year we know to show up early, because it was PACKED! That’s why it was funny when we ran into another couple we know.

That was our weekend followed by church at Access and a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Best Weekend Ever!

Alex & I invited my parents, brother & kiddos over for dinner.

I’m so super excited because this will be the first time we’ve used our new dining room table and chairs.

The Menu:

Salmon with homemade Salsa

Roasted asparagus

Wild rice

The kids will be feasting on ice cream sundaes!

We get to use our new dishes as well!!!

Then tomorrow night we are driving to St. Pete to see Alex’s mom and eat some yummy pizza.

Be sweet to your momma today!

Thurs. 3/25- Lesley (my cousin) was put in ICU. It was a scary, sad situation. She had a miscarriage with lots of complications. I am so happy she is alive and well AND she came to the wedding. She’s one of the strongest people I know.  This was the day we found out the bridesmaid dresses didn’t fit.

Sat. 3/27- Lingerie  Shower and Bachelorette Party @ Cafe Tu Tu Tango. A good time was had by all!

Sun. 3/28- My good friend Crystals Birthday (I bought her Harry Potter!) and Will’s 1st, 4th Birthday Party @ Auburndale Park.

Mon. 3/29- Now at some point during this week, we had the bridesmaid dress fiasco. The dresses we ordered on line DID NOT fit, so we scurried to find yellow dresses of the rack and this was the same week Nannie had fallen and was admitted to WH hospital.

Sat. 4/3- Bridal luncheon @ The Barn. My favorite place to eat.

Sun. 4/4- EASTER and Will’s 2nd 4th B-day party. Trav was sick. Alex and I bought him TRIOS, coolest blocks EVER! We dyed Easter Eggs and dropped Mentos into Diet Cokes.

Tues. 4/6- Nannie passed away. I ended up having 3 days of bereavement and that was oddly very helpful for last minute planning. Thanks Nannie!

Thurs. 4/8- Dade City for the graveside service. Alex & his parents came and were able to meet my dad’s side of the family. Also, best man, David Higgins arrived into town.

Sat. 4/10- Decorated, Rehearsal and Dinner at Grillsmith.

Sun. 4/11- WEDDING. Alex surprised me by taking me to The Terrace for our wedding night. We ate at the Terrace Grille (with an “e”)

Mon. 4/12- David Higgins & fiancee Daina drove us to Tampa and we cruised on Royal Caribbean’s “Grandeur of the Seas” to Costa Maya and Cozumel.

On top of EVERYTHING afore mentioned I was working like a madman in Purple Door , maintaining a relationship with my fiance, packing for the honeymoon, trying to pack up my life, moving my packed up life, answer wedding questions and all the MILLIONS of last minute things that go into planning a wedding.

I can’t believe it’s over, but slightly relieved. Okay, I am COMPLETELY relieved!

I have moments when it feels like 3 years since Nannie passed away instead of 3 weeks. So much happened in such a short time with LOTS  of stress attached.

So thankful God put Alex by my side for it all.

I was hoping May would quiet down, but it’s kept up a busy pace.

And today is Easter.

My Savior died for ME and I have a new overwhelming sense of “inadequately appreciating” all that I have been given.

I am so incredibly appreciative and blessed that words fail, my heart is full.

My God.

My fiancee.

My family.

My friends.

My new house.

My co-workers. (yeah, even my co workers.)

My health.

People that are so willing to serve, help, celebrate with Alex and I.

The list is endless and I have been trying to articulate to My God, how absolutely undone I am. The words thank you seem so ambivalent to what my heart and emotions feel.

So what do you say when thank you isn’t enough?

Here I sit on Easter Sunday. Completely quiet, speechless, trying to find words.