Well There Goes My Mom of the Year Award...

Dear Mom of the Year Selection Committee,

I would like to thank you for considering me for this year's Mom of the Year Award. There were times over the past couple of months when I thought I actually had a chance. I mean, I've been reading stories, baking cookies, painting butcher paper, singing songs, cuddling little ones and teaching life's lessons with the best of them. I really felt like 2009 would be some of my finest work yet!

So it is with much regret that I must respectfully withdraw from the competition. You see, we had a little incident in the Giddens household last week. It was nothing really. Just a little mishap. Well, ok, so maybe it was more than just an incident. More like a major catastrophe. But everyone's ok! I promise! And believe me, the pictures look worse than it actually is (sortof).

But you see, I have a very active three year old little boy. Who loves to get in to all sorts of messes. And touch things he's not supposed to touch.

And even though I try, I can't keep my eyes on him ALL THE TIME.

So I thank you for the honor, but since Everett figured out how to turn on a blowtorch and managed to burn his face. And singe his outer eyelashes. And some of his hair. I just feel like it would be inappropriate to accept any nomination, let alone an award, at this time. In fact, I may have to put myself out of the running indefinitely.

Regards,

Everett's Very Embarrassed and Remorse-Filled Mom

Fifth Anniversary Recap

Yesterday was our 5th wedding anniversary and it was fantastic! What was especially neat about this year's celebration is that the days of the week aligned the same they did five years ago, ie February 6th was on a Friday this year just as it was in 2004 when we got married. So all week I've been saying to Will, "Five years ago today was my last day of work before we got married", etc. It's been fun to stroll down memory lane and remember all the wonderfulness of our wedding and the past five years of happy marriage.

In the past, we haven't been in quite the position to properly celebrate our anniversary. In fact, the previous four years have been relatively low-key. But this year Will rang in five years of wedded bliss with a bang! It was an incredibly fun night and I am reminded again and again what a thoughtful, loving, kind and generous man I married. Not to mention totally hilarious (C'mon people, I KNOW you can back me up on this one!). And yes, I know I'm bordering on much too sappy for a blog post, but I'm in charge around here, so what I say goes! :-)

For anyone else who's planning an anniversary celebration, here are a few tips from the master himself:

Beautiful flowers, including one rose for every year of marriage:

One spiffied-up couple:


One incredibly FABULOUS restaurant where the food is amazingly wonderful and you are doted on hand and foot:


(Even Il Mulino's take home bags are fancy dancy!)

One gorgeous pearl ring:

And a movie (sorry, no picture). But seriously, watching Liam Neesom kick butt was totally thrilling.

We had a great evening and thanks go out to my parents for watching the rugrats. Everett threw quite the fit as we were leaving, but as I understand it, "Horton Hear a Who" will calm just about any three year old down.

Happy Five Years Will!