Happy #2 Matthew Joseph!....

Wow!

Our little man is two today.

 He is every bit boy and every bit delightful in every way.

 Making funny faces is one of his favorite things.

He is a master of charades, preferring to act out what he is trying to say rather than just tell you!

 His sister's think he is incredible.  That in itself is awesome because most sisters are bothered by a little brother who messes up their doll houses and takes over their TV with Paw Patrol.

 Mattie Jo loves tractors, balls, and trucks.

He can kick a football, swing a golf club, and give you the thumbs up sign on cue.

 One of his favorite things, however, is his daddy.  This is not your typical mama's boy.  He is a daddy's boy all the way.  

 God has blessed me one hundred times over with these precious faces.

Each is unique and holds a special place in my heart.

Matthew you are the namesake.  You are the one that will carry the Shubzda name forward.

You are the one who carries not just the Shubzda names but also Matt's name and I am certain that your Uncle Matt could not be prouder.

I love you sweet boy.  I love that you are close enough that I can see you whenever my heart desires...and that is pretty often.

I love that you are such an easy, content little boy.

I love that you are two and I have been able to experience the joy you have brought to our lives each day since you arrived.

Happy Birthday Matthew Joseph.

Planning Ahead.....

I am a lover of all things Christmas.

The fact that Hobby Lobby has Christmas out after the 4th of July is a bit over kill but now that Halloween is past, I am ready.

 I know that we should celebrate the holidays and we should not pass over Thanksgiving...but I am not.

 I love turkey, pumpkin pie, and family.  I can still honor that with my Christmas tree fully decorated.

I don't think it detracts from the meaning of the day.  

Christmas season is my favorite.  I overdecorate, over buy and over celebrate, and if I am going to put that much effort in to it I want to enjoy it...for weeks, and weeks, and weeks.

So, thank you Hallmark for Christmas movies that have already started and for the radio stations that are playing Christmas tunes.

Celebrate as you like...I choose Christmas.

For the Record.......

And just exactly who wants this record?  

We set a record for the highest temperature ever recorded in 

Dallas today.

EVER!

IN HISTORY!

And today is November 2nd.

So who needs or wants this ridiculous record?

I am struggling to buy pansies for my garden when all my summer flowers are still blooming beautifully.  Christmas decorations are out everywhere and I know how people who live in Los Angeles must feel during the holidays. My internal season clock is totally out of whack and from what I understand this is not the end of this record breaking heat.

So here we are on November 2...just for the record.

Hello November.....

A Perfectly Beautiful Day....

 God surely smiled on this beautiful couple.

The day  before this late October wedding the temperature was in the 50's and the wind was blowing about 30 miles an hour.  A nightmare scenario for an outdoor wedding with a hundred people in attendance.  

On this day it was 70 degrees and not a leaf was moving.  You could not have ordered more perfect for this perfectly matched pair!

 Kelsey and Drake were a long time planning this special day.

 With almost all their families and friends in attendance they said their "I do's" with tears in their eyes.

 And then proceeded to a celebrate in style!

Love these kids, our new family member and missing all of the family that could not join us.

Happy wedding day Kelsey and Drake.

Super 8........

 My precious little Brooklynn Mae is 8.  

Time has a way of sneaking by you and though it is a bit sad, it makes me so proud to see the beautiful young lady she is becoming.

 Her smile is a gift.

 Her heart is huge.

And she just fills my heart everytime I see her.

I know someday soon she will outgrow her need to hang out with me so until then I will just soak up every minute I can with her.

Happy #8 B-Mae!

Hello October!....

None of us would know by the 90 plus degree temps, pollen in full ragweed mode, and allergy suffers crying for relief, but we are now in October.

It is football season, time for everything pumpkin, and the State Fair has opened it gates.

I hope the weather God's will have some mercy and let us enjoy a bit of fall before we are fully enveloped in winter.

Either way....

HELLO OCTOBER!

Faces of Matthew!........

 Just because I love this boy!!!

AND HE IS 40!.......

So we went with the nautical theme.

Perfect for a former navy man and an avid lake lover!

I would say lake lover would be the one nearest and dearest to his heart.

Yes, Finley came to the party all decked out in her new purple cast...

an accessory that none of us envied on this very hot day. She was a trooper...never complained and joined in all the festivities. Someday this will be a story to tell...for now it is just hot and itchy.

Captured...I avoid pictures ALWAYS....but sadly caught without enough warning.

Brooklynn is always ready to party...especially at the lake!

And when you can't swim like the rest of the gang, you decorate the big old cast with little colored puff balls.

Our tiny jet ski lover.

Crazy party faces.

Fun family celebration....

The big 40 and mom is feeling really old!

Just Some Facts.......

My son just got home from a business trip...to Chicago!

I asked him if he knew that was where I was born....

"No, I thought you were born in Peoria."

So I got to thinking...of course.

My kids do not have a lot of facts.

I am really filling all of this in so if they ever go back through my books they can find some of the answers to the questions that I wish I had asked my mom and dad.

So, yes, I was born in Chicago and I guess my parents did not officially name me until the day of my baptism because my birthday was not September 5th!

Sadly this is a very poor picture but this is a picture of my grandparents on the day I was baptized. 

I do not now how old they were here but I have been told that my granddad was totally bald when he was 26.  He wore a toupe for awhile until someone pulled it off...then it was goodbye toupe.

I am sorry boys.  I guess your propensity to early hair loss was hereditary.  

And my grandmother...never saw here in anything but a dress.  I guess that was a sign of the times.  

I loved her dearly.  She had a huge heart and was always available, unless it was time to watch her "stories" on the 7" TV screen of hers.

There are a few fact kids.  More as I think of them or before I just can't remember them anymore.

Addicted.........

I cannot help it!

It is back to school and supplies are front and center in every store...

AND

I have purchased in every store.

I love new school supplies.

New glue sticks, crayons, markers, and folders.

Yes, I need them.  I have grandkids.  Even if I didn't I would buy them and donate them because the fun is in purchasing crayons for 50 cents a box.  

I reorganized my folder for Faith Formation...a new one of course!

I bought new dividers, a spiral notebook, and markers and pens.

It is the teacher in me.

Did I mention I love school supplies?

Not the Norm......

What a beautiful way to start the month of August!

The temps are in the 80"s, rain is in the forecast, and the highs will not even reach 90 all week!

What a great day!!