Updates for Everyone. . .

We celebrated my niece getting married this past weekend and Big T got to be a part of it.  It was a beautiful wedding and we enjoyed celebrating with our family and friends.  My niece was married in the same church that her mother and I were married in, so naturally I was a little sentimental about the day and remembering my own wedding.  I am sure my sister did the same. 
It was nice to see my very handsome son dressed in something other than shorts, t shirt and a sweatshirt.  Naturally I have pictures to share so, stand by.  Big T picked out his suit to wear for the Wedding and we did not know the colors my niece was going to use but to our surprise it was the very same suit that the groomsmen wore. 
We were missing Sprat this weekend, he had his first scrimmage on Saturday, that first college lacrosse game.  They got beat but they were playing teams that had been together a couple of years.  Sprats team are all freshman and that was their first time playing as a team.  They have a lot to learn and a lot of practice ahead of them.  We got their schedule and I hope we get to go see him play this Spring but, it will depend on Big T's schedule too.   I begged Sprat for some pictures from the scrimmage, of course, I did not get any.  I told him when he comes home for Thanksgiving that I will be all in his face taking pictures.  I miss him so much but, I dare not tell him that, I do not want to make him home sick. 
On our way to the Wedding festivities on Friday morning my hubby got a text from Sprat that said, "Boston was crazy last night."   That was the night that the Red Sox won their bid to the World Series.  I promptly sent him a text saying;  "I know you were not in the middle of all that celebration, right?"  His reply, "I might have been."  (priceless)   As a mom you never ask your teenage son a question that you do not already know the answer.  I knew he would be there and that was ok.  He is having the best time of his life right now and I am very proud of him. 

A little flashback from '93 

Truly Pampered Mom

I must brag just a bit on my very sweet husband.  He does a lot around the house and he is fully involved with what ever the kids are doing and he cooks now and then.  The other day he announced he was going to make chicken pies.  I did a little double take with the head tilt and confused look on my face. He said again, I am going to make chicken pies.  I said ok, and laughed it off. Well, low and behold,  he made two chicken pies the other day. We froze one and ate the other one.  I must admit it was very good.  We can add chicken pie to his vast repertoire of pancakes, bacon, omelet,  anything on the grill, Greek chicken in the crock pot,  and Latoshia's chili recipe. 
He said he was preparing to retire, he would cook while I worked part time to provide insurance.  He really has been thinking an awful lot about this retirement thing.  He has had a good deal of practice lately with my work schedule and a lot of folks sick at work.  He has really had to be both Mom and Dad  several days these last few months.   He is a trooper though, he rarely complains, maybe sometimes in jest. 

I am a lucky girl!!  In April we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary,  it does not seem that long ago.  I love this man more and more each day.  If I could give advice to those engaged or even newlyweds, I would say find someone that makes you laugh and never ever hold anything back.  The hubbs and I do argue but, we argue and get it out and over with.   We are different people and have different opinions and we are not afraid to share that opinion with each other.  We have had our fare share of knock down drag outs but we always feel better after we have voiced our opinions.  Do not change who you are for anyone, your soulmate should know the real you.  

My very sweet hubby said on numerous occasions he loved me because of my fire and my willingness to fight for what I believe in. 

Things have been sporadic for sure here at the Pampered Mom?? but do not fear I am trying to find my way and get back to a regular schedule of posting.  Stay tuned, you know that Sprat is getting ready for College and Big T is finishing that first year of high school.  

Anniversary and UNC in the Title Game. . .

I am married to the very best man on the planet with the exception of my daddy and father in law.  I had not forgotten our anniversary but I did not have anything for my very sweet hubby today and he had not forgotten and even had gifts for me this morning.   I am one lucky lady.  He got me a new rosemary plant that I have been wanting since mine died a couple years ago and chocolate.   He also gave me a very sweet card, he took great pride in the fact that he had something planned and I did not.  Usually it is the other way around.
These twenty four years have flown by, it seems like yesterday we were preparing to go on our honeymoon.   We spent a week in Ft. Lauderdale with a day trip to Key West.  We had a blast eating fresh seafood and enjoying all the sites.  The drive to Key West was awesome and oh how I loved the conch fritters.  We went to the Mel Fisher museum in Key West that has some of the treasure on display from the Atochia that Mel Fisher discovered off the coast in 1984.  My mom and dad were there when they were bringing it all ashore  that day in 1984. It was really neat being able to see some of the treasure from his discovery.  Another win for the hubbs, he gave me a silver coin from the Atochia for my wedding gift and arranged the day trip to Key West to visit the museum.
I laugh and tell people we had to get married when we did, we had to plan our wedding around the NCAA tournament.  My mom and dad went to every tournament NCAA and ACC for as long as I can remember up till the last fifteen years.  My dad is a State grad and  they are big State fans still. My lease was up at the end of March and we had a very short window between my lease ending and the start of the tournament.  Not only would my mom and dad not be there but my hubby would not have any groomsmen either.  The groomsmen were all huge UNC fans. While we were in Florida the final game was played and it just so happens we were out to eat at a local bar and grill and of course they had the game on over the bar.  The hubbs and I did not care about the game, we are not Carolina fans.   We ended up sitting at the bar to eat and you will never guess but another Carolinian end up at the bar and he was a Carolina fan.  The bar tender assumed we were also Carolina fans and I proceeded to tell him that not everyone that lives in North Carolina is a fan of UNC.  North Carolina does have a couple other really good colleges.   Hence my title for this post.

Wedding Day. . . .

We have a niece getting married today.   I think the wedding time of year has moved from Spring and Summer to more Fall.   I was listening to the radio yesterday and they were talking about Weddings and how much people spend on them.  This particular listener had called in and said her parents spent $40,000 on her Wedding.  I just about went off the road.  Holy cow!!!  We had a big wedding but we did not spend near that much, I don't think we spent near half that much.    I guess the wedding theme when we got married was much simpler.  These days they go all out and spend upwards of $40,000 on renting a place to have the wedding.  Thank goodness things were more traditional when we got married.   We were married in the Church I grew up in and had our reception in the fellowship building.  We were not big drinkers so we did not have to move the reception so people could drink.   We had piano and violin music during our reception no DJ or band.  Please don't get me wrong, I am not slamming anyone that had these things, many of my friends had receptions in other places and had open bars, bands, and DJ's.  There is nothing wrong with that, if that is who you are.  I guess I just think people should do what they want, not do what everyone else is doing and break themselves and their parents on one day.  Yes, it is a big day and I will never forget my own.   My hubby and I have enjoyed 21 years together and I look back on our Wedding day with great memories and how perfect it was.
My hubby is threatening when the boys are old enough and thinking about marriage that he will offer them cash to elope.  I think there may be a fight over that one.  I have heard of other parents offering the same to their kids.  Some opt for the cash and some opt for the lavish ceremony.  I hope that my boys will pick a young lady that has a similar background and will won't a nice little church ceremony.  I think it would break my heart if my babies eloped.  I know I have many years before any of this happens but, I cannot help but think about it.  Ahhhh, the trials of being a mom.

The Wedding. . .

The Wedding was great!  Just fit the couple getting married.  They love their sports.  The men looked dapper in their tux and the ladies looked lovely in their dresses.   The men came out of the first base dugout and stood down the first base line.  The ladies came out of the third base dugout and stood down the third base line.  The groom and the preacher came from the first base dugout with a top hat and cane.  The bride came down from the stands and looked beautiful in her off white, strapless, tea length gown with a faux fur off the shoulder cape.   I must say I cry at most every wedding.  This one I did not.   I think my tear ducts may have been frozen.  It was quite chilly last night sitting out in the stands of the baseball field. 
Here is where it gets interesting.  After the vows and the pronouncing of marriage the groomsmen and bridesmaids leave the stadium.  As they are leaving each one has a baseball that they throw out to the fans or guests of the wedding.  Yes, I caught one.   We then go upstairs to the club floor for food and casino games.  That was a lot of fun.  Mark played craps and had the highest winnings with over $250,000++.  This was only in chips no money changed hands.   He did, however, win a prize for the highest winnings.   

I had the most fun at this wedding.  You just can't beat baseball and casino games.

Getting ready for a Wedding

One of Mark's best friends is getting married this weekend and I have nothing to wear.  What else is new right?  Well this is going to be one of the most unique weddings I have ever attended.  They are getting married at a baseball stadium.  They are saying their vows on home plate.  The bride and groom are both in to sports really big so this is really not unusual for them.  It is unusual for me.  We are going to be sitting outside in the cold for the ceremony and then inside the club floor of the stadium for the reception.  So what do I wear?  Mark said I could bring a stadium blanket to keep me warm and nobody would say anything.   Oh, here is the other cool thing.  The groomsmen all get to go on the field and play ball before the wedding and then they are getting dressed in the locker room .  This is probably the only wedding Mark has been excited about attending and being a part of, including our own.   He hates all the getting dressed up hulabaloo.   Mark's brother is going to be watching the kids for us, poor guy.   Oh, and the reception has a casino night theme.  I am so excited but, I still have nothing to wear.