Liebster Award

Dana from Learning to Follow His Lead was sweet enough to nominate me, thank you so VERY much!!


So..  Here are the rules:

Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their blog on your blog.

2. Display the award on your blog-- by including it in your post and / or displaying it using a "widget" or "gadget".

3. Answer 11 questions about yourself which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you.

4. Provide 11 random facts about yourself.

5. Nominate 5 to 11 blogs you feel deserve this award, who have less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display the widget that lets readers know this information.

6. Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer.

7. List these rules on your post. Once you have written and published it, you then have to :

8. Inform people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster Award and provide a link for them to your post so they can learn about it (they may not have heard of it!)

Here are the questions:
1.  How did you and your spouse/significant other meet? We only lived one street over from each other and I was best friends with his brother growing up.
2.  How is your favorite way to travel? Car
3.  Spanko or Spankno? Spanko if its the fun kind of spanking, but forget it when it's not.
4.  Do  you like to read?  I love to read!! And if so, what kinds of books? Romance, Science Fiction and of course anything about a good spanking (because it's not my bum on the line). 
5.  Do you enjoy camping?  Abosolutely, love the outdoors and camp fires at night. And if so, what is your idea of "roughing it"  (tent, camper, cabin, black and white TV?)  HA!  We have a toy hauler that has a master bedroom with it's own door and television and a dish for cable.  I consider this roughing it as we only have one bathroom to share amongst the four of us.  Alex has an egg timer to clock showers and watches water usage by person, so that makes getting clean nerve wracking too.  The one and only time he tried to camp with me in a tent... He put it up on top of a HUGE ant hill and we woke up covered in ants!!! I have never come close to tenting it again.. 
6.  If you could meet any one person who would it be and why? Hmmmm.. I know you are probably looking for a really deep and meaningful answer, but since I am waffling on changing my career.. I am going to say Nora Roberts, as she is my favorite author and I am noodling the idea of writing a book.  So I would love to sit down and pick her brains on writing and learn from her vast experience.  
7.  Dog or a cat person? Dog 
8.  What flavor ice cream do you hate? I actually don't eat ice cream, but can't stand the smell of the coffee flavors if that counts for anything..  :0) 
9.  Did you bring this lifestyle to your mate or was it the other way around? Nope, all Alex!
10.  Name one thing besides spanking that if people knew about you would be shocking? Wow, I am boring.. Nothing about me is shocking..  :0)
11.  How old were you when you got  your first kiss? Well..  if a peck on the cheek by a boy counts then I was 5.  If we are talking on the lips by a boy then 14.  But if we are talking on the lips by a man then I was 17 (actually took place on my birthday) and it wasn't a peck, but a full on kiss that took my breath away. 

Random Facts:
1. The smell of Vicks vapor rub makes me throw up.
2. I love all things memory foam.
3. Glass elevators freak me out, as I don't like high places.
4. I can't sleep with socks on.
5. I only wear Moonlight Path lotion from Bath & Body Works.. No other perfumes or lotions.
6. I can't carry a tune to save my soul.. I mean it is really sad how badly I sing.  
7. I am a chicken, so do not watch any horror movies or read scary novels.  
8. Very big sleep walker as a child, but have thankfully out grown that lovely activity.
9. I am allergic to fake nails, my skin bubbles around them and my fingers hurt.
10. I should own stock in Wrigleys, as I chew WAY too much gum.
11. My favorite go to drink is Lemonade Vitamin water.

My nominees: Shocking I know, but I am breaking this rule.  :0)  

I would like to invite anyone that wants to answer these questions to please take them and post them on your own blogs.  This is a great award and as a semi new blogger (8 months behind me now, whew) it made me feel special.  So I would like to share the special with old and new bloggers as we all play our parts in this community.  

Questions for my nominees:
1. What is your favorite season?
2. How many siblings do you have?
3. Remember board games?  What is or was your favorite before technology took the world over?
4. What is your favorite movie?
5. Ever see a movie that was better than the book?
6. Strangest place you have ever been spanked?
7. Most rememberable spanking you ever received?
8. If you could have a trial run at telling anyone about using DD/TTWD and they wouldn't remember the next day, who would it be?
9. If you could have your dream vacation where would it be and with whom?
10. What is your spouses go to present (Flowers, chocolates, poems)?
11. What is the best present you have ever gotten and why was is so special to you?

Whew, that was fun!  Thanks so much again to Dana for nominating me and to all the bloggers out there that make this such a wonderful community.  

Crying sucks!!

As I lay on the floor covered in muddy monster puppy, half dead and trampled flowers (not even sure if they were mine or the neighbors at this point) I tried to remember the feeling of laying on a beach with a fruity alcoholic beverage listening to the waves.  But that is hard to imagine, let alone keep in your head with a puppy licking your face and the water was now soaking through my clothes.   I was just about to start moving when I heard the garage door open and heavy footsteps heading in my direction.. Oh perfect, lets just add an angry male to the combination too!  Ugh. 

Flash back several hours to Wednesday morning....

Alex: "We should go, it's our anniversary and it's important for us to have time alone."

Me: "We have been on and off the road now for weeks, we need to stay and catch up.  Plus we can't just leave your Mom, she needs us around right now."

Alex: "Mom needs normal and us celebrating our anniversary an hour north away from teenagers is completely normal.  She would feel bad if she knew you didn't feel she could be left with the kids for the weekend alone."

Me: "Hey, that is so not what I said or meant!  I said we shouldn't leave her right now, not that I didn't think she could be left alone with our kids for the weekend. Thank you very much!  I am late and don't think we need to figure this out right this very second, it's only the middle of the week."

Alex: "I already made reservations and have arranged everything, you only have to pack at this point and get off work early if possible on Friday."

Me: "Fine."

Alex: "Fine as in you will pack and be home early Friday ready to have a great weekend with your husband?"

Me: "Fine as in I will pack and be here as early as I can manage on Friday."

With that I walked out of our bathroom, grabbed my bag and made a quick dash out the door.  I made it to the office before my cell started to ring and it was "his" ring tone.  Grrrrrr.  Nope, not answering!! I am not ready to speak with you yet mister tell me we are going out of town man.  With that I sacked his call and walked with purpose into the office and to my desk.  I was there maybe two minutes when my secretary called in that Alex was on line 2 and he sounded grumpy.  "Sorry Beth, can you tell him I am late for a meeting and will call him back later."  There was a pause on her side, the lady knows my schedule, she guards it with her life and I didn't have a meeting for another hour... But she chimed back she would let him know.  Two minutes later I had Beth and Carol (she sits across from Beth and right outside my door, so she hears all and knows all) in my office with coffee pushed into my hands and curious looks as to why I was avoiding Alex and growling.  (I didn't realize I had been growling and tossing papers about since my entry.)  Ugh.

So after a very unlady like humph I sat down, took a large swallow of coffee and spilled my guts.

Me:"The man doesn't even ask he just tells me we are going out of town for our anniversary. I mean hello shouldn't we both have a say on our anniversary? We have been world travelers this year and it's only April for crying out loud and after all the stress and sad we have dealt with we should settle a bit right? (not that I gave them a chance to answer me) But noooooo the man just ups and makes reservations and arrangements and all but tells me to be ready and home early on Friday.  I have taken so much time off already this year, I need to catch up both here and at home.  I mean we have been home for like five minutes and his Mom is with us and she is barely settled and he wants to run off and leave her with the kids.  What is that?  Shouldn't he be spending time with her and making sure she is working through losing her husband and watching her to make sure her health is being looked after?  Why must I be the voice of common sense here?  Grrrrrrrr.  (Yes, I was growling again.)

Beth:"So just to make sure I am hearing this right. You are mad because your gorgeous husband wants to take you away for the weekend alone to celebrate your wedding anniversary and he took care of all the arrangements on his own and is only asking you take a day off work and what.. pack?"

Me:"Gorgeous has nothing to do with it and well.. yeah, he asked me to pack." I started to squirm a bit in my chair now. "He didn't really ask for an entire day off just if I could get home early on Friday so we could head out at a decent time. But that is not the problem... What about his Mom and the kids and our home and work... It all needs looking after now.  He just needs to think it through some more and maybe you know ask his wife how she feels about everything!" (Yeah, there was my mad and it was coming back a bit now!)

Carol:"Or maybe he wants or needs to take you away and spend time with you to work through his feelings on everything that has happen and make sure you are doing well too?  Maybe he needs the two of you alone to process everything and regroup and your anniversary is just a really good reason to go out of town and spend time together and work through all the feelings and things that need looking after now."

Oh great!! Now I lost my mad again and started feeling VERY guilty...  Was Alex needing time alone to regroup and get his feelings processed?  He always says time together alone helps him to center himself again.  Oh man... Could I mess things up anymore?

Me:"Then why in the world didn't the man just come out and say he needs time alone?  Why didn't he just say "honey I need us to be away to process all these feelings and regroup?" I mean the man just ups and says we are going away this weekend, get packed and be home early on Friday.  Hello, it's call communication right? He isn't a cave man, he talks my ear off all the time I promise you he is fully capable of full on conversations. "

Beth:"But maybe he isn't quit himself at the moment, I mean he just lost his Dad and his Mom is sick right?"

Me:"I don't know.. I mean yes all that is true but he has been a rock through all of it.  He took care of his Mom and the family, he grieved with everyone and he shared fun stories at the celebration. I mean it all happen so fast we had to scramble to get back east and pull everything together.  But I took care of most of it so he could take care of his Mom and family.  I packed up their house and arranged movers and talked with the neighbors who are helping with the move.  I even got her medical records moved here and got her lined up with new doctors.  In a few months I will take her back and we will close down the house and clean up loose details, but nothing is really a fire drill right at the moment. Her room is setup just as it basically was back east and I made sure she had all her favorite foods. The headstone for his Father was the only thing left and I just got confirmation yesterday it is going to be put into place by end of week and is exactly as we requested."

At this point my boss walked in and we got down to business and I tried to concentrate on work.  By 1pm I was ready to talk and see where my man's head was in all this so I closed my door and made the call to his cell.  He didn't answer, so I called his work line and got his admin Brit.  She told me he was in a meeting and he had been trying to reach me all morning and he looked really tired today.  I told her yes, we were playing phone tag and hopefully the weekend away would put some spring back in his step.  She seemed to brighten at that comment and said she really hoped so and did I want to leave any message.  I told her just to let him know I called and we will talk tonight at home.

I never really was able to concentrate past the morning chatter with Beth and Carol, so by 3pm I was closing everything down and getting ready to leave. (Yes, makes perfect sense since I was so worked up about missing more work on Friday. I am a women fully capable of changing my mind on a whim, come on you all know how it is..)  Alex was going to come home to a home cooked meal and his favorite dessert to top it off.  Then we could volunteer the kids to clean up and spend some time off on our own and try our morning chat all over again.  But this time I want to look into his eyes and see if he is not showing all his cards right now.  If he "needs" time away that is totally different and I am 100% ready to take him and run.  But if it's just a following the motions because the calendar is saying we need to celebrate, we should talk through that together.

I stopped at the store, picked up the needed items and got on my way home.  Only I didn't make it all the way before getting a flat tire and ended up on the side of the road about a mile from home.  So I called Kyle and told him to come help me out and bring a cooler for the food to stay cold.  Well in true teenage fashion he did show up about 15 minutes later but without a cooler.  Sigh.  So I left him with my car and to changing the tire and I took the food with me in his truck (took me a few minutes it is a stick which I haven't driven in ages) back home.  After congratulating myself for getting home and hoping I didn't do any permanent damage to his gears, I got all the bags loaded onto my arms and headed for the front door.  I really should have remembered to grab the garage door opener from my car. Ugh.  I made it to the door and my MIL who had been pacing since I called opened it and started pulling bags from random parts of me in a hurry.  I got an ear full on the way into the house about carrying too much at once and I really tried not to think about how much she sounded just like Alex. I swear their two speeches on carrying groceries are pretty dead on the same, I shouldn't be surprised they are so much alike.   I plastered a smile on my face and of course agreed but was thinking I made it didn't I?

It was right after I put my groceries on the counter and turned to walk back to shut the front door that I ended up catching my monster puppy as he launched his self in greeting at me.. Only he had come from out side in through the door I was going over to shut and he was covered in mud and flower bits.   He still hasn't gotten the clue that I am still my size and he has tripled in size so now when he jumps up to greet me I can't take his full weight let alone a full speed gallop and jump greeting.  So we both ended up on the ground, with me breaking his fall and seeing stars to boot.  So there I lay in happy puppy muddy mess and thinking how tired I was.  Sigh....

Now you are all caught back up to the start of this post.

Alex grabbed Jack (yes he actually has a name other than monster or brat, but he comes to all three)  up and off me and took him out back, while I got up with the help of my MIL.   Alex came back and asked me as he started his physical pat down if I was hurt and after he was sure and I had confirmed I was fine. Picked me up like a sack of potatoes and headed off towards our bedroom and asked his Mom to see about the groceries we would be back down in a few minutes.  I looked up long enough to see her with a grin and a wave go back to the kitchen.  (Yes, she actually had a grin on her face!!!)  Grrrrrr   This is the only thing I have against Alex being so large... He can pick me up like it's nothing and he does it often.. frustrates me to no end we are in the 21st century and yet he often resorts to cave man ways of just picking me up and putting me right where he wants me.  But I digress...

Once we were in the bedroom and the door locked he walked over to the bed and flopped down with me in tow.  I was put on his right side and my head tucked under his chin and told to hush and listen to him very closely or our positions would rapidly change to one I wouldn't like very much.  I don't know if everything just decided to catch up with me all at once or my frustration of the day itself  started to make me cry.. Just some tears and sniffing at first but I couldn't stop it and when he started to comfort me I completely lost it and started into full on break down mode.  I swear I cried on him for almost an hour and I couldn't get it all to stop, I would get enough air back to say I was sorry and then I would lose it all again.  He held me, rocked me and told me to keep going and let it all go now and not to bottle any away for later.  Just let it all go and he would hold me through it all and he did.. He actually had to take his shirt off by the end of it as it was wet and icky from me crying on him for so long.  But it was the first time I let myself cry since we got the news about his mother or the phone call that his Father was gone. I never once let myself truly cry, I had tears that I shared with others but never let myself cry.  I hate to cry and I hate to share true grief with anyone, it is very hard for me and I only ever really break down in front of Alex never anyone else.  I don't even ever remember crying on my parent's shoulders growing up but going up to my closet or out to the pond with the ducks to do my crying.

When we had gotten the news of his Mother's health, I was the one to recover first and start passing out drinks and comforting kids.  I answered the phone the night his Father passed and was the one to wake him and tell him the news.  I packed everyone, got the arrangements started from here and continued on as we travelled east and then took over all the planning and organizing of it all.  All these things that needed taking care of I did to help Alex and his Mother.. They all needed to be done.  But in doing all this I didn't allow myself to feel or process, as I was only concerned about Alex and his Mom.  I wanted my kids to get through all this and make sure that Grandpa G got the best of what we could give him for his goodbye.  What I didn't know was that I had an entire family watching me and worrying about me and ultimately waiting for me to fall apart.  Alex was only one of many who wanted to see me away for the weekend and given a chance to slow down enough to find my way of grieving and beyond that regroup from our year so far.  I am sitting her blubbering as I type this now.. Ugh, it seems that is all I get done now is grabbing tissue and blowing my nose.

We are going away this evening for the weekend and Alex wants to talk about our current situation with work and family.  (I am working from home this morning and really not working too hard if you can't tell.) He says he thinks we need a change and that he wants me to be very open minded because most of the change he wants to discuss would impact me.  I am already super nervous about our conversation because he has been hinting at me either changing positions at work or not working outside the home anymore.  I am not so nervous about him wanting those things, but nervous I might be ready to say he is right.   But that would be the end of a very large part of my life and I have become really attached to the people I work with.  I just don't know if I have the energy to keep everything going anymore, not if we don't catch a break any time soon.  The last 7 months have been a real trial for us and I am just happy we have made it through, but something has got to give or we are going to hit a wall.  I know it and I think Alex sees it coming and wants to head it off, plus it would solve a great deal of our power struggles too.  I have a REALLY hard time switching modes when I leave work, as I run a group of 20 people here in the US and anther 30 or so Internationally.  So I am really good now at shooting out directives and driving solutions being built in very limited amounts of time.  But that gets me in the "I can take on the world, just watch" mode and he doesn't really like being given a directives from little old me.  :0)

So wish us luck... That we have some fun celebrating and that our talking about everything else doesn't take the entire weekend over.  I would love some time just shutting the world out and cuddling with my husband and thinking of the next 18 years as husband and wife and where they will take us...

While the cat is away...

Those mice... well they will most definitely play!!

So a few weeks ago we headed to Las Vegas and left our teens on their own with a list of do and don't do items.  I was asked how the kids did while we were away... Well on the most part they did a really good job, but they did end up having a party.  We specifically left instructions that they could each have one friend each over at the same time and no more.  No opposite sex shall step foot into their bedrooms and zero should pass our threshold into the master at all.

Saturday night Kaylee had a girlfriend over and one of her cousins (First teenage loop hole, we didn't specify cousins in the counting category in house list of rules.) Kyle had one of his friends over, who was expecting some other friends to drop by with his guitar they borrowed later.  Scott ended up coming down when he saw the truck full of teenagers show up with said guitar and they all started talking out front.  At this point the count was up 2 cousins and 7 kids who all had cell phones.  According to Kaylee it was completely out of their control when others just happen to show up and they moved to the backyard to not case chaos out front.  So now they had about 15 kids in our backyard, but not in the house. (Teenage loop hole number two, they were in the backyard and we said inside the house in our rules.)

By the end they had about 30 kids in our backyard (this was the official count from our neighbors anyway) and pizza was brought in twice.  Our kids did have the common sense to remove those that brought alcohol right off, so they didn't have that problem at least.  But the noise did get a phone call to police around midnight and that is when Kyle and Scott ended it all.  They kicked everyone out and even started taking people home themselves to ensure everyone got home safe.  (Teenage loop hole attempt number three, driving curfews couldn't be adhered to if they wanted to ensure everyone got home safe.)

During the evening a few kids decided they wanted to swim, which blows my mind as we didn't have the heater on and our pool is still VERY cold!  But swim they did and they managed to break our cleaning spouts that lift on the bottom of our pool, so a few now need to be replaced.   (We have a warranty on them but Alex and I have decided the kids can pay a few dollars anyway to ensure the lesson is learned. )

So the good news is that they were safe even while breaking (Kyle still thinks they bent more than broke) the rules and they were straight up front about it when we got home.  Which was really good for them since our neighbor waited all of thirty minutes upon our return to come over with a pie to welcome us back and give us the run down on the kids gathering the night before.   I don't think my kids appreciated the detailed run down we got, but I thought it was great.  Going forward I know they will understand they are being watched like a hawk if and when we give them another opportunity to stay home alone again.  Bless their hearts!

Also great news is that we haven't spent much time getting to know our neighbors but they seem like really nice people and we can't wait to get to know them better. We have invited the neighbors over to a "thank you" dinner in two weeks, since we have so much family stuff going on at the moment.  They sent us flowers following the passing of Alex's father, which again floored us as we just haven't gotten to know them well and they have reached out to us twice in very tough situations.  They are just a bit older than we are and they don't have children, but they seem like they are up to the challenge of living between us and Jay/Lori.  They said they really love the energy all the kids have brought to the block and they absolutely adore my little monster puppy even though he likes to chew her roses every chance he gets... Another sign these neighbors are great!

So we have had two teens grounded for the last few weeks and are just now getting all their privileges back.  Why does it often feel like we the parents get part of the punishment too when we ground them?  I mean listening to the moans and seeing the sad little faces begging for release early is just as much a punishment for us in my opinion.  But we both stood strong together and of course the loss of Grandpa G and the failing health of Grandma M have pulled us all close right now.  We had a very quiet Easter yesterday, not our usual huge family gathering but spent it alone just the four of us.  We spent the majority of last week traveling, saying good bye to Grandpa G and then getting back home to settle in for the week. It will take time, but we will all settle back down and celebrate what time we have left with grandma here on earth and remember we will all be together again one day.

It's not goodbye, but see you again in time....His time.

It doesn't seem like 67 years with you was nearly enough, this family still had so much to learn from you... With your booming voice and sparkling blue eyes, you took over a room with out effort.  The yells from our kids on the look out for Grandpa G will always be one of my favorite memories...

Grandpa G is in the house, watch out ya'all!!  

Your energy, honesty, devotion and love of God is a HUGE foundation for this family in so many ways.  We will forever remember the gentle giant that spent every day of his life loving the Lord and his family with every fiber of his being.  The earth lost a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend... But heaven just gained one heck of a new angel! 

So we are not saying goodbye, but until we see you again...  Grandpa G, we love you. 


Last Saturday we were all invited to a family BBQ at the request of Alex's parents.  Alex's mother has had some health issues lately and so she has been spending more of her time back east.  She didn't say anything during the holidays and then the weddings followed that so she again held off.  But she felt it was time to tell the family that she was diagnosed with cancer and they didn't find it until she was already stage 4.  After much prayer and discussion with doctors she has decided not to try any treatments but take what time she has left and spend it with family.  Sadly many of us felt she made this choice due to her husbands failing health, that they wanted to go as closely together as possible. None of us vocalized it but I know all of us wanted to hear her say she would fight and win over this cancer that has attacked her body.  Of course that is selfish on our parts and probably a gut reaction since we are just learning of this and she has had several months to come to terms with her decision.

Sunday morning around 2am, Alex's father had a massive heart attack and passed within moments.  Needless to say this family is dealing with a bunch right now and just in our house alone we have gone from shock to anger and then tears... Lots and lots of tears.   Alex has taken his Mom home and we are traveling first thing in the morning to be with them.  The rest of the family is all finding ways home for his final celebration.. Yes, he had written a letter explaining he didn't want a funeral but a celebration of his life and his passing on to meet his Lord.  So a celebration of life is what this great man will get!!

The balance goes both ways...

We arrived in Hawaii mid-day on Wednesday, put our thing away in our hotel room and went out to enjoy the beach and a tropical drink.  The usual scouting around and where shall we eat for dinner followed and then we settled in our room, opened our patio door to listen to the waves crash and cuddled in for the night.  Alex mentioned that he had read my last post earlier that morning and he really thought we should talk about the balance this dynamic gives to both of us.  He knew that I felt bad about getting into so much trouble lately and that I felt ... well off in our dynamic since last year.  So much change has occurred with the moves, our children getting older and family situations that it would be a challenge for us not to feel "off".  Alex pointed out that he was proud of us for keeping up with everything and that our dynamic helped us along the way when we needed it to bring us back together.  He didn't want me to feel badly about seemly being in more trouble lately, because he said that it helped him gage how we were handling the changes and it helped him center himself.

Me: "Um... Center yourself?  How is your wife not being able to stay out of trouble and constantly push at you and our rules helping you center yourself?"

Alex: "Being able to focus on you and us in that physical way helped me put all the change into perspective.  You allowing me to continue leading our family and giving me the physical connection that comes with our dynamic outside of our bed helped me through it all.  I need you in this dynamic just as much if not more some times than you need me."

Well now that took a bit of time for me to even start to wrap my brain around...

Me: "So you are saying that you NEED me to get into trouble?"

Alex: "No, I am saying that the intimacy and trust you have given me over and over allows me to focus on my family more fully and it centers me."

Me: "I read a blog a few weeks back, where the wife knew her husband needed the contact and moment of leadership in order to feel better about something he was struggling with outside of the home.  The wife picking up on that actually went to him and asked for a spanking to help him get back on track.  That blog made me stop and think, did I ever see you needing to spank me for you rather than my actions warranting the outcome of a spanking.  My answer was that I never looked at it that way so along the way I could have missed that you need this dynamic past how it helps our marriage. With everything that has been going on I never came and talked to you about this and honestly just remembered it now.  Wow.. I am really sorry honey do you need a magnet to flip too?"

Alex: "You have nothing to be sorry about.. I think we have learned a lot about ourselves these past few months and the blogging community has opened both our eyes to the amount of people that have some form of what we practice in their relationships.  Some of those blogs have influenced us in ways we are just now starting to understand, because we are questioning our dynamic more than ever before.  I see Jay and Lori watching us more closely than ever and our kids have us in a fish bowl 24/7.  But here the two of us are together and honey I have to say that for all we have been through in the past few months I feel closer to you than ever before."

Me:"Do you ever feel like spanking me would help you when you are upset about something outside our marriage?"

Alex: "I think spending time alone with you in any intimate setting would help me forget about anything upsetting me.  It doesn't need to be spanking, but I can't say that our fun spankings aren't a huge turn on for me. As they say in blog land, I am definitely classified as a spanko."

Me: "Well then we may just be in trouble here, cause I have started craving our fun spankings.  I would have been on the floor laughing a year ago if some one told me I would be craving you spanking me. I only wish we could have brought some new implements to try out, as we finally have time alone to make noise and have some fun."  (My lower lip actually came out as I said this...)

Alex: "Well then worry no more little one, I have brought some surprises and one of them is about to come out."

He went into the closet and returned with a wooden ruler, plastic hanger and oh my goodness his belt!!  Now if you follow my blog at all you know that the belt is a HUGE fear of mine.  I don't have any idea why it freaks me out so much, but I was losing my playful feelings at the sight of that in his hand.  But being the smart and very observant man that he is, once he saw me zero in on the belt and start to panic he put it on the table across the room and said maybe another time.  Whew...

Back into bed he came and over his lap I went and fun we did have.... But the man didn't stay inside the lines!!!  My bikini lines that is... The next day I had to wear a cover up as parts of my bum was still red and marked from our fun the night before.  I told him as much over breakfast and his response made me choke on my coffee...

Alex: "Well then I should definitely practice more, but maybe for now we should just find you a red bikini so it all blends."

Um, yeah.. I have a new red bikini that I will forever keep even when I can't (shouldn't) wear it anymore, it will always be a keep sake from this trip together.

Vegas Baby!!

I was chatting with Lori last night and she wanted to know why I wasn't going to blog about our Vegas adventures... Of course we had several "adventures", as usually when she and I are together long enough it just HAPPENS.  :0)  She laughed and said to feel free to share her run in with security at the airport, she didn't think Jay would mind sharing that particular "adventure".   He is still reading blogs that Lori brings to him, but he doesn't venture out and read them on his own.. At least that we know of anyway. But she is still hoping to one day blog herself, so until then this one is for you Lori!!


Living so close to Vegas, we have been there numerous times over the last several years but this was our first wedding there.  The guys headed over to Vegas on the Tuesday following the March 8th wedding to get everything setup.  I went back to work with the intent of joining Alex on Friday and spending the weekend in Vegas and getting home late Sunday.  Both our kids already had prior plans and we were not big on the idea of taking them to Vegas, so they were given a very BIG opportunity to stay home by themselves.  Jay and Lori decided to let their older kids take charge for the weekend as well and left them in charge with a list of rules longer than ours for them to follow.  I only know this because the list was texted to Kaylee by her cousin and she gave me a big hug and thanked me for making their list short and sweet.

On Thursday I got a call from Alex asking me to request the next two weeks off work and I wasn't allowed to ask why...

"It is a surprise that is much needed, so put in the request and don't ask any questions woman!"

So with a VERY huge smile I went and begged my boss for the next two weeks off and he (bless his heart) gave them to me and told me to have fun.  My entire team up at work could hear all the wedding details coming via phone calls and text messages for weeks, so they starting asking for daily updates.  I swear we started having cooler chats every morning so they could get the latest updates and they even started pools on the fainter.  I have to admit that I love the people I work with, they are like my second family as we have almost a decade of working together.

Lori and I were booked on a flight to Vegas together early Friday morning, so after getting all the kids  off to school and laying down the law one last time with the older kids...We were on our way....

Or trying to get on our way!


The shuttle was twenty minutes late picking us up and we were stuffed into an already full back seat.  This is one of those times where I wish everyone would make personal hygiene a top priority... ICK!

So by the time we reached the airport (an hour trip from our houses) we were ready to breath in some fresh air and get the show on the road.  We only had carry on so we were able to skip that hassle and we had pre-checked in online before going so we were going directly to our gate.... We were only 10 minutes from our take off time, but first we had to get through security.  Well now I don't think either of us look suspicious in any way shape or form, but Lori got pulled to the side and patted down.  She looked to be taking it well, so I went over and gathered my things and found a chair to put myself back together.  I was in the process of putting my shoes back on when I heard Lori's raised voice exclaim that her perfume was very expensive and she measured the amount of liquid to follow the rules.  She was full on reciting the liquid carrying rules to the security lady (who didn't look very impressed) when a second security guy started over in their direction.  I grabbed my bags and went over to offer Lori my support, much against the wishes of the security group that was now around Lori and all smelling her perfume.. Yes, they were literally passing the dang container around and smelling her perfume.. I am trying hard to remember what fragrance it was, but for the life of me can't recall at the moment.  But I was informed that it was very good perfume and cost and arm and a leg and it took her months to save up for the bottle.

We must have been called in as a "situation" at some point, as a golf cart full of MORE security people showed up and Lori and I were asked to relocate to their security head quarters to further discuss our options.  Oh goody, because missing our flight was not fun enough!!   After another hour of explaining over and over that she felt she had followed the rules (demanded them to measure the liquid) we were given the option of them tossing the perfume and letting us proceed to our gate (but at this point we had missed our flight...HELLO!)  or we could call some one to pick up the perfume or they could hold the perfume for Lori to pick up on her return.  Well that got Lori to explaining that we lived a good hour away and we were going to Vegas for a wedding and THEY had made us miss our flight and what were they going to do to fix that!

I felt maybe it was time to call Alex, who immediately told Jay and Lori's cell phone went off minutes later...  Only security still had her cell phone and so then I had to tell them it was her husband calling and they REALLY should let her speak to him.  The head security guy all but ran to get her the phone at that announcement and within minutes it paid off.  Lori was told in no uncertain terms that Jay didn't care how expensive the perfume was but to leave it and find the next flight to Vegas and get on it before security banned her from the airport.  I am not certain if the head of security just wanted us out of his airport or he was just scared of our next move, as he not only got us to the right desk to get another flight but took us to our gate and put us (literally walked us on the plane!!) on our flight.  I called Alex right before take off and told him our new flight details and that we were about to take off.  I could hear Jay in the background, it was really NOT going to be a good day for Lori once he got ahold of her.

She was in a panic by the time we landed, as I think after her anger wore off she realized what she had done.  This is very out of character for her, I am the vocal one and she is usually the voice of reason.  I really think the stress of moving and the weddings had taken a toll on all of us.  So I was ready to make a case for Lori to Jay as soon as we were out of the aircraft and walking down the corridor of the airport with our men at the other end waiting for us.. (Well Alex was standing and waiting patiently but Jay was pacing.)  Only as soon as I got close enough Alex hugged me and lead me away and said to let them have a few minutes alone.  He could tell I was really worried so he squeezed me and said to let them work it out.  Then he tickled me and said he was happy I didn't like perfume... Well that made me laugh and it made me feel better as we walked ahead to get the car.

Lori had red eyes when we picked them up but she and Jay both had smiles on their faces and nothing further was said ... For a bit, because then it became the running joke during the course of the weekend and will more than likely follow Lori around for a time knowing this family.  The good news is that we drove home with the guys, so no more security checks were in our near future. :0)

P.S. - Lori took a basket of candy and fruit to the airport a few days after our return and personally thanked everyone and apologized for the incident... They actually still had her perfume and some of the ladies owned up to using a bit of it..  She told them to keep it and enjoy!

Lori, you are one classy lady!  :0)

Oh the drama of it all....

I have decided that with the size of my family and the amount of drama that surrounds us all.. I could probably either write a soap opera script or a novel with very little problem... I would never run out of material, that is for sure!! 


On March 8th at 6:15 pm Laci walked down a path laced with white silk and gold accents towards her future husband Matt. She had a huge smile and love in her eyes as she made her way to him. Her husband to be watched her walk towards him with a huge goofy smile and his mother on stand by with smelling salts.  I am happy to report he made it through the entire ceremony and celebration on his feet and without fainting!  (The man fainted twice prior to the big day, so we had plans and back up plans in place just in case...)

Now I have all of you scratching your heads wondering where our second bride was right?

Well, she walked down a very different aisle a week later in Vegas.  Elvis was there and it was very fun, just a few of us in attendance and a great way to let go after all the stress of these two weddings.  Kenzie was happy and after it was all over she said that if she could go back two years, she would have eloped instead of trying to plan the perfect wedding.  Gary (her husband) was the happiest I have ever seen him and he seemed to actually keep Kenzie happy and out of trouble all weekend.  Kenzie was our monster bride and always the joy of any family gathering.  :0)  We love her, but a little bit of her goes a VERY long way if you know what I mean.

Ok, so now you know both ended up married.... But now you probably want to know why the change in the last hours before the big day right?  (Yes, I know you all are the curious types.) Just a bit more family drama, but nothing that didn't get resolved in the same night.  But both couples felt that since strong feelings were at large over them sharing a wedding day (mixture of both families) and knowing all the chaos that had already ensued they both agreed on walking down different aisles.  Honestly I felt bad for both couples at this point, as we had gotten so close to the big day and all this went down during the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.  Ugh.   Too many families in the mix and too many judging their decisions for them to have any chance of making everyone happy.

Basically to sum it up..  Gary and Kenzie will be welcoming their first (of hopefully many) child in October, so she was getting married while pregnant.  (Yes, big gasp from the parents on both sides that didn't know.) She and Gary have been engaged for two years and did zero planning for the wedding until January of this year... In comes Laci who has known her man for three months, turned 30 last year and feels her biological clock ticking away and wants to get hitched ASAP and start her family.  Laci went to Kenzie and promised to make the wedding a success if they share the expense and still have it on March 8th.  So then a few weeks later I get my phone call about having the wedding in my backyard and well you have a picture of how all this started.

Only... Kenzie didn't tell Laci or anyone else for that matter that she was pregnant, she was hoping to spring that on everyone after the wedding.  She confessed that she knew people would be upset and that she didn't want her wedding overshadowed by the news of the pregnancy since it wasn't going to go over well when the math of conception was done. What she didn't count on was getting sick during the rehearsal dinner and wearing the wrong outfit that shows she has a little baby bump...  I am sure talking amongst the families behind the scenes had been going on for the past few months, but it all came to a head during the very ill fated dinner.

Since Laci put her heart and soul into the wedding plans and in my humble opinion..ticked off less people she kept the March 8th wedding.  The Vegas wedding was a miracle that took several family members and friends pulling strings to pull off.  Alex, Jay and Tony should be given medals for pulling it off as they pushed, finagled and probably a bunch of begging  was done to get it to all worked out and in such a short time.  They are really SUPER brothers!!!

I will just leave it at that and tell you where I have been since our return from Vegas.....

My man took me island hopping!!!  We hit all the major islands and filled our days with snorkeling, eating, fishing, eating, swimming and playing in the surf, eating, sailing, eating and just having a blast.  (You notice the amount of eating we did?  Diet starts on Monday.)

I have been MIA for almost a month, so am super excited to read some blogs and get caught up.  Plus I will start writing more about some interesting conversations and fun (adult type) we had in Hawaii.