Captains BIG 5...0..All the way to.......

MEXEEECO!!

I booked the trip for "just the 2 of us" almost a year ago for the Captains big 50. 6 doggone days in PARADISE!

It was to be a big surprise.

I got a "secret" credit card and began paying it off.

UNTIL ONE DAY..

When one of the 7 littles ventured to get the mail...

And DROPPED the "secret credit card bill" IN THE BUSHES.

Next thing you know,

The Captain is coming inside asking

"Hey, Who's going to Mexico?"

SQUASHED SURPRISE!

We flew The Captains neice in to take care of the kids. She's a DOLL! Before we left, we celebrated with cake, ice cream and the 7 youngest.

We stayed at an ADULTS ONLY, ALL INCLUSIVE resort in Playa Mujeres Mexico.

(because I wanted to eat like a pig AND not see any kids, I knew if I did, I may have a breakdown)

TWAS DIVINE.

They decorated our room for His b-day.

We also celebrated our anniversary while we were there hence the kissing swans..

When we arrived we got our hands washed with cool lavendar hand towels and a small dash of CHAM PAG KNEE!

We enjoyed getting all duded up for fancy dinners each night

Waking up to this view each morning and stuffing ourselves at the breakfast buffet..

Meeting new friends..

ALL the room service you could EAT..

Holding, hands

and my favorite....

EATING SLOWLY!!!

Snorkeling..

The Beautiful, serene beaches..

Laying on floaties in the MANY pools..

But mostly just so thankful for the time to re-connect with each other, and ACUTALLY be able to LISTEN to each other when we talked and focus on the love we share. 

We talked alot about the kids (of course) and how God has truly blessed AND SURPRISED us with 8 children!

We never thought when we married this would/could EVER HAPPEN! WOWZERS!

We talked about HOW FAST the time goes when one is content and happy...Our marriage has FLOWN!!

Happy Belated 5..0 to the MAN OF MY DREAMS!

Still looking HOT at 50!

Can't wait to see what the next 50 bring..

It's ok to leave your kids, we survived and so did they...

Even if you don't go all the way to Mexico..MAKE TIME FOR YOUR MARRIAGE!!

It's VITAL!

I want our kids to see our love for one another, to see that we take time out FOR US, to love each other..

One of the first things Aw-Bell said as we got home was..

"HOW WAS YOUR HONEYMOON?"

The END :)

The Captain WINS-BEST HUSBAND EVER!

I KNOW it's not the gifts that matter at Christmas but The Captain REALLY spoiled me this year. FOR ONCE, I was completely surprised at his wonderfullness!

When it comes to him shopping for me, it is USUALLY a Last minute WALLY WORLD RUN!

HE PLANNED AHEAD, WAY AHEAD!!!

And I owe him, like FOREVER!

I had been salivating over this BEAUTIFUL necklace from SCARLET ROBIN for months. Jen makes some super unique stuff!

A necklace that could actually FIT all 8 of our kids names on it.

I FOUND IT IN MY STOCKING CHRISTMAS MORNING!

AND THAT'S NOT ALL!

He and I woke up before all the littles and THIS is what I saw..

A precious glider for Baby Bakers and I to rock in, some PARFOOM (not from WallyWorld) AND a flip video camera!

AND THAT AIN'T IT!!!
He saved the best for last!
Inside this card, Inside my stocking was this message

"CALL THE NUMBER BELOW TO.....

TALK TO YOUR NEW CLEANING LADY!"

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!
She is coming today to do a walk through of the house with me!

My house is always picked up and clean but its my BIG FLOOR and dusting that are a huge challenge.

God has been so good to me, and our family and I am so thankful for The Captain every day!

He is on MY GOOD LIST for a VERY LONG TIME!

A Christmas BOW for the CAPTAIN!

You were probably thinking me...wrapped in a big RED bow right?

NOT SO MUCH..

It's this pretty lady he's had his eye on..

We loaded up the 7 littles and headed to THE DEAD ANIMAL STORE 3 hours away...

Our "archery outfitter" gave The Captain a little lesson, adjusted the new bow to fit him..

The Captain give it a "LOOK SEE"

Put the arrow in and pulled the "THINGY" back.

While the 7 littles and I watched in awe..

Behind this sign...

He's a pretty PRECISE GUY-
for this was the result of the only 3 arrows he shot....

He dreams and hopes of getting AT LEAST this 60 pointer LOL!

I KNOW he can do it!

FOR HE IS "THE CAPTAIN!"

On a sweet side note..

RUN, RUN as fast as you can,

You can't catch her..

Fall HARVEST 2010!

FALL HARVEST IS in FULL SWING around here! The Captain should be finished cutting our soybeans today. Then there is wheat to plant and he should be close to being DONE!

My friend Vic from Oklahoma came for a visit last weekend. She pulled in the driveway just in time to take Baby BAKERS on her first combine ride!

The weather has been SO BEAUTIFUL!

While on my daily walk last week I noticed 30 caterpillars.

I decided to take the middle 5 out on a walk while the oldest was at football and baby was napping.

Aren't they sweet? All actually LIKING EACH OTHER for at least 5 seconds.

WE found 15 or so "WORMY SQUIRMY'S". We made them a little temporary home and just watched them for a while. We looked them all up on-line and they all turn into REAL UGLY moths. Perfect for our catch and release program!  It was a fun educational afternoon!

 SEEMS CRAZY that Fall harvest is almost over already. I will MISS THIS when winter hits!

I WILL NOT MISS the Fall Harvest DUST that hangs in the air and the HOUSE day after day.

All Decked out!

What started out as THIS..

Ended up as THIS DREAM!!!!

Here is The Captain nailing the last step on as MyMy practices her violin in the background!

I LOVE IT!

Didn't he do a GREAT JOB?

We are very happy we went with composite decking that is suppose to last far beyond us being in the grave and requires NO MAINTENENCE!

We plan on putting stone around the bottom to finish it off!

My LOVELY SERENE VIEW-our soybean field ALMOST ready for harvest!

It will be so nice to go out my bedroom door each morning for some tranquil time.

NOW ALL I NEED IS A CHAIR!

So BLESSED to have such a handy hubby!

The Captain's 2nd week..

Hard to believe The Captain has already been home 2 of his 7 weeks off-HIS NOT FLYING IS FLYING BY!

We made it to the zoo...CHECK

Got all the equipment washed for fall harvest-CHECK!

(I think it's funny he likes to wash it before he goes and gets it all dirty)

Had some severe weather-CHECK!

(notice the soybeans in the picture below the storm are ALMOST ready to cut)

Went to "the big city" and got the 7 littles EQUIPPED for fall-CHECK!

BTW-that requires a DETAILED LIST of

who needs socks, undies, tennies, church clothes, boots, church shoes AND SO ON..

Aren't these here some handsome cowboys in their NEW DUDS?

HOWDY PARDNERS!

And The Captain is ALMOST done with the deck off our bedroom!

Can't wait to sit and sip my coffee and read my devotions in the mornings with God's beauty all around me!

He's had LOTS of help!

He's putting the railings and steps on today!

We are certainly blessed to have our daddy home for 7 weeks!

We've also got all our hairs cut, and teeth cleaned!

I'd say we've got a lot accomplished so far huh?