Stephanie is one of those wonderful people who is always helping someone. She is really a full time therapist, a ready friend for any occassion (but especially a pedicure or gym buddy), and everyone’s go-to first phone call when they need something. So painting a few cupboards and walls was the least we could do when the creative spark struck.

Danielle has no recollection of worshipping this paint brush but it did serve her well.

Hahaha! I love when my kids wear their “Volunteer” shirts! Every child should have one

Our creative Stephanie is thrilled to have her vision of a pretty kitchen coming to life.

Here is the pre-kitchen with the cupboards already painted a much improved brown…

And you can kind of see the finished look behind Stephanie as she celebrates her latest birthday. You go, Girl! We are ready for your next great project

Michael has been living the quiet life – free of drama and any activity that might induce parental heart attacks. He is so easy going and cheerful that I forget he is a teenager with bigger designs than living at home his entire life and giving me my daily “I love you” hug. Suddenly he turns 18 and starts getting excited about his impending high school graduation and actually makes plans to go to college and move out on his own. Normally I would congratulate myself on a job-well-done but this time around I have to give Michael most of the credit.

He has had a stellar senior year and has enjoyed having his little sister, Danielle, at high school with him. They have been carpool buddies and rearranged their class schedules to take Film History together – probably the best class ever. Who wouldn’t want to watch movies every day in school? And their homework – watch even more movies! Brilliant.

Lest we forget that Michael is indeed a kid at heart, his favorite birthday (or really any) present were a thrilling addition to his already fairly large collection:

Now to persuade him that he could have many, many more swords if he would just stay at home a few more years…

Actual Conversation:

Me:  I don’t like all our empty bedrooms.  We really need to work on filling them up.  Do you think we can convince the kids to live with us forever?

Dad:  Well…I may have filled them all up.

Me:  Really?  All of them?  For how long?

Dad:  One night.

Me:  Hm.  Who’s coming for one night?

Dad:  The bikers from my motorcycle forum.

Me:  What?!??!!? You invited strangers from the internet to stay at our house???? (Serious freaking out)

Dad:  These aren’t strangers.  They are my motorcycle buddies and now they can be your friends, too.

Me:  Are you crazy??? You can’t just invite random people to sleep at our house!  People troll the internet finding people like you to prey on!  And now they will prey on me and possibly Danielle.  Michael is probably safe.  (more serioius freaking out and lots of “Ty Brown”ing)

Dad:  Haha!  Motorcycle guys live by the motorcycle code – take care of your own – and now you’re one of them.  Don’t worry.  You’ll get to know them really well when we ride with them the next day.

On second thought, it’s not so bad having a few empty bedrooms.

As the old year slips away, there are plenty of things it can take with it as long as these stick around for the new one.

Mothers & puzzles…

Daughers and boyfriends that make fabulous sons…

Brothers that should definately stay longer…

Wonderful unexpected visits by the sweetest grandmother…

Dads and Bugatti’s…

Love and excitement for adventure…

Laughter (lots of it!) and old age…

Sons and Skype!

So much fabulous family time was the perfect way to end the year and ring in 2012!

$0.25 – Hardly worth the notice

25 mph – Slow and boring

25 Years of Marriage – Unbelievably Amazing!

To celebrate our success, Ty slipped something pretty on my finger.

We can’t wait for our 50th!!!